PRINCETON,  N.  J.  '<# 


Library  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Hodge.      Presented. 


BX  9225  .D25  D36  1866 
Dana,  William  Coombs,  1810- 

1873. 
The  life  of  Daniel  Dana,  D. 


d**-  •^C'.&P^ 


s  * 


£*,    ^4^-0    £&^      *y/^   ,  J^L^  ^     ^ 


Jq*.  £~tj,  / £  £>  &> , 


i 


Coorr.'bs       t)a^.a_ 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


Daniel  Dana,  D.D. 


BY  MEMBERS  OF  HIS  FAMILY. 


SKETCH    OF    HIS    CHARACTER, 


W.   B.   SPRAGC/E,   D.D. 


BOSTON: 

J.    E.   TILTON   AND    COMPANY. 

1866. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18ti(i,  by 

J.   E.   TILTON  &  CO., 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Press  op  Geo.  C.  Rand  &  Avery,  3  Cornhill,  Boston. 


PREFACE. 


This  memoir  was  nearly  ready  for  publication 
in  the  autumn  of  1860.  It  is  hence,  in  every 
respect,  a  relic  of  the  past. 

The  writer  of  most  of  these  pages  has  attempted 
little  more  than  a  narrative  of  his  father's  life. 
What  he  was,  appears  from  the  testimony  of 
others,  and  from  his  own  writings.  They  who 
revered  and  loved  him  living  will  look  with  in- 
dulgent eye  on  this  tribute  to  his  memory  —  a 
simple  column,  to  which  another  hand  has  added 
the  Corinthian  capital. 

W.  C.  D. 


TABLE     OF     CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

1771  —  1785. 
Ancestry.  —  Early  Years 1 

CHAPTER    II. 

1786  —  1788. 
College  Life 7 

CHAPTER    III. 

1788  —  1791. 
A  Year  at  Hanovej.  —  Two  Years  at  Exeter 18 

CHAPTER    IV. 

1791  —  1793. 

Theological    Studies    at    Ipswich.  —  Teaching.  —  Entrance    on   the 

Ministry 24 

CHAPTER    V. 

1794. 
Commencement  of  his  Ministry  at  Newburyport 32 

CHAPTER    VI. 

1795  —  1800. 

Withdrawal  of  the  Minority.  —  Pastoral  Duties.  —  Yellow-fever.— 

Injury  to  his  Eyes.  —  Success  as  a  Peace-maker.  —  Marriage         .      46 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

1801  —  1806. 

Religious  Excitement  in  Newburyport.  —  Rev.  Mr.  Milton.  —  Adelphi 
Society.  —  Publications.  —  Letters  from  Dr.  Morse         ...      56 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

1807  —  1812. 

Origination  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover.  —  Presbyterian 
General  Assembly,  1810  and  1812.  —  Visit  to  Washington  and 
Mount  Vernon.  —  A  House  of  Mourning 05 

CHAPTER    IX. 

1813  —  1820. 

General  Assembly  of  1814.  —  Death  of  Mr.  Coombs.  —  Publications. 
—  Connection  with  various  Societies.  —  Marriage.  —  Pastoral 
Labors.— Bereavements 87 

CHAPTER    X. 

1820  —  1821. 

Election  to  the  Presidency  of  Dartmouth  College.  —  Removal  to  New- 
Hampshire       98 

CHAPTER    XI. 

1821  —  1826. 

Four  Years  and  a  half  at  Londonderry,  N.H 109 

CHAPTER    XH. 

1826  —  1837. 

Return  to  Newburyport.  —  Ordination  at  Ipswich — General  Assem- 
bly of  1827.  —  Death  of  Dr.  Joseph  Dana.  —  Revivals.  —  New 
Divinity.  —  Strictures  on  Radicalism  in  the  Pulpit.  —  Election 
Sermon 134 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

1837  —  1844. 

Division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  —  Suffering  from  his  Eyes. — 
Anniversary  at  Exeter.  —  Letters  to  Professor  Stuart.  —  Fiftieth 
Anniversary  of  his  Ordination 155 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

1845—1853. 

Portrait.  — Life  at  Home.  —  Personal  Traits.  —  Resignation  of  the 
Pastoral  Office. —  Ministry  at  large.  —  Ordination  at  Belleville. — 
Sermon. — Daniel  Webster.  —  Remonstrance  addressed  to  the 
Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy 178 

CHAPTER    XV. 

1854  —  1859. 

His  last  Years.  —  Celebration  at  Newburyport.  —  His  last  Publication. 
Resignation  of  his  Seat  in  the  Andover  Board.  —  Centennial  at 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  —  Installation  at  Second  Presbyterian 
Church.  —  State  of  Health.  —  Interview  with  the  Presbytery.  — 
His  Death 21C 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

1859. 
Funeral  Services.  —  Tributes  to  his  Memory 237 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  DR.  DANA.    By  W.  B.  Sprague,  D.D.  .    250 


APPENDIX. 

THE  DANA  FAMILY.  —  PUBLICATIONS 


THE     LIFE 


DANIEL    DANA,    D.D. 


CHAPTER     I. 

1771-1785. 
Axcestry. —  Early  Years. 

About  twenty  years  after  the  landing  at  Plymouth, 
Richard  Dana,  whose  father  had  left  France  in  con- 
sequence of  the  persecution^  against  the  Huguenots, 
came  from  England  to  this  country.  He  married  and 
settled -at  Cambridge,  Mass.  His  eldest  son  (who 
died  in  infancy)  was  born  in  1649.  On  record  is  a 
deed  of  land  sold  by  him  April  20,  1656.  His  mem- 
bership, and  that  of  his  wife,  in  the  Cambridge  Church, 
was  as  early  as  1660.  At  an  advanced  age,  he  died 
suddenly  at  Cambridge,  April  2,  1690.  It  appears, 
from  the  Probate  Records  of  Middlesex,  that  he  left  no 
will,  and  that  his  estate  was  settled  by  ^agreement, 
signed  April  16,  1691,  by  his  widow,  four  sons,  and 
three  sons-in-law. 

From  Richard  Dana  are  descended,  as  is  supposed, 
all  of  the  name  in  this  country  (with  slight  exception). 
Through  him  it  would  seem  that  a  Huguenot  origin 
might  be  definitely  assigned  to  the  family.  But  some 
imagine  —  as  the  name  is  found  on  both  sides  of  the 

l 


2  ANCESTRY. 

channel  —  that  Richard  was  descended  from  William 
Dane  (or  Dana),  Sheriff  of  Middlesex,  in  the  reign  of 
Elizabeth,  whose  coat  of  arms  (the  motto,  "Cavendo 
Tutus")  may  edify  those  of  easy  faith  in  such  mat- 
ters. 

What  Richard  Dana's  motto  was,  or  whether  he  had 
any,  may  be  doubtful :  we  can  more  easily  tell  what  it 
might  have  been.  "  TJbi  libertas  ibi  patria  "  suits  well 
his  history. 

Of  the  four  sons  of  Richard  who  survived  him,  Ben- 
jamin, born  1660,  who  died  at  Brighton  (then  Cam- 
bridge), was  the  father  of  Joseph,  born  A.D.  1700,  who 
lived  for  some  time  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  and  is  called 
"Joseph  Dana  of  Pomfret,"  in  several  deeds  of  land 
about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  He  died  at 
Lebanon,  N.H.  He  was  grandson  of  Richard,  and 
grandfather  of  Daniel  Dana.  His  son,  Joseph  Dana, 
D.D.,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.  — born  Nov.  13,  1742,  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College,  1760  —  was  sixty-two  years  pas- 
tor of  the  South  Church  in  that  town. 

Daniel,  second  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Staniford) 
Dana,  was  born  at  Ipswich,  July  24,  1771.  His  mother 
died  when  he  was  not  a  year  old.  How  tenderly  her 
place  was  after  a  time  supplied,  appears  from  incidental 
allusions  in  later  years.     The  thought  of  her  whom  he 

;  1  never  known  was  kept  alive  by  the  remark,  some- 
times made  to  him  in  his  childhood,  "I  should  know 
you,  Daniel,  from  your  resemblance  to  your  dear 
mother."  * 

*  She  was  step-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Rogers  of  Ipswich. 
She  died  May  14, 1772,  in  her  twenty-eighth  year.  That  she  was  lovely 
and  beloved,  appears  in  a  letter  still  extant,  occasioned  by  her  death, 
from  "  Joseph  Dana  of  Pomfret,"  then  living  at  Ashford,  to  his  sou  at 
Ipswich.     The  letter  breathes  a  deeply  religious  spirit. 


EARLY   YEARS.  6 

Years  ago,  aged  persons  in  Ipswich  spoke  of  him  as 
one  who  "  was  never  a  boy."  One  incident,  however, 
may  slightly  modify  this  judgment.  Usually  a  model 
of  filial  duty,  he,  nevertheless,  one  day  when  there  was 
no  school,  left  his  home,  sponte  sua, — no  leave  asked, — 
and  strolled  away  to  the  Farms,  an  attractive  part  of 
his  father's  parish.  To  the  subsequent  paternal  inter- 
rogatory, "But  why  did  you  not  ask  leave?"  the  naive 
answer  was,  "  Because  I  didn't  think  you  would  give 
me  leave."  It  was  in  keeping  with  the  history  of  one, 
who,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  long  pilgrim- 
age, was  truth  fulness  itself. 

His  love  of  music  was  early  developed.  Whilst  yet 
so  young  as  to  drop  the  r  in  "  trouble,"  and  put  d  for  j 
in  "joy,"  he  would  sing  (in  unconscious  prophecy), — 

"  Through  all  the  changing  scenes  of  life, 
In  trouble  ami  in  joy, 
The  praises  of  my  God  shall  still 
My  heart  and  tongue  employ." 

When  eight  years  old,  he  commenced  studying 
Latin  ;  the  next  year,  he  began  with  Greek.  At  twelve, 
he  was  reading  "Seneca's  Morals"  as  a  pastime.  At 
that  time  (1781-1783),  the  sessions  of  the  Supreme  Court 
at  Ipswich  were  attended  by  Rufus  King,  who  became 
a  great  object  of  admiration  to  the  young  student  of 
Cicero.  To  hear  him  plead  was  more  attractive  than 
any  recreation.  He  thought,  that,  if  any  modern  orator 
resembled  the  great  Roman,  it  must  be  Rufus  King. 

Shakspeare  was  an  early  favorite.  He  felt  the  charm 
of  that  sublime,  all-comprehending  genius  ;  whilst  what- 
ever was  morally  objectionable  found  in  his  pure  mind 
nothing  to   adhere  to.     Many  were  the  noble   senti- 


4  EARLY  YEARS. 

merits  and  choice  expressions  made  familiar  at  this 
early  period,  to  be  reproduced  in  after  years.  One  of 
these  that  recurs  to  memory  might  have  been  taken  as 
the  motto  of  his  life  :  — 

"Let  all  the  ends  thou  aim'st  at  be  thy  country's, 
thy  God's,  and  truth's." 

How  genial  were  the  influences  of  home,  how  nutri- 
tive to  mind  and  heart  the  atmosphere  of  his  father's 
house,  those  can  best  understand  who  remember  the 
venerable  pastor  at  Ipswich.  When  Dr.  Joseph  Dana 
was  eighty  years  of  age,  his  appreciation  of  the  Latin 
classics  was  still  perfect,  More  than  one  of  his  grand- 
children, domiciled  with  him  in  childhood,  can  vividly 
recall  the  enthusiasm  with  which  he  inspired  them  in 
the  study  of  Virgil  and  Cicero,  and  the  singularly 
happy  art  with  which  he  sought  to  waken  into  life  the 
germs,  not  only  of  literary  taste,  but  of  noble  and  gen- 
erous moral  sentiment.  The  story  of  Sinon  was  made 
to  render  more  impassioned  the  detestation  of  cunning 
and  treachery;  the  episode  of  Nisus  and  Euryalus,  and 
similar  passages,  were  brought  home  in  their  pa- 
thetic power  to  the  feelings ;  but  admiration  of  the 
great  poet  was  always  to  stop  short  of  any  tolerance 
for  the  barbarous  pugilism  of  Dares  and  Entellus,  which 
drew  forth  only  indignant  protest.*  So,  too,  what- 
ever in  the  great  orator  was  below  the  standard  of 

*  That  his  own  moral  training  had  been  not  dissimilar,  appears  from 
an  incident  once  related  by  him  of  his  childhood.  An  unseasonable  fall 
of  snow  had  driven  some  quails  to  take  refuge,  through  the  open  door, 
in  his  father's  house  at  Pomfret.  The  children  at  first  counted  on  a 
welcome  addition  to  the  larder;  but  their  thoughts  took  a  different 
turn  when  their  mother  said,  "My  sons,  never  hurt  any  creature  that 
confides  in  you !  " 

His  mother  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Francis  Fulham,  of  Watertown 
Farms,  Weston.     See  Appendix. 


EARLY  YEARS.  0 

Christian  ethics  was  distinctly  repudiated.  Even  now, 
after  the  lapse  of  forty  years,  the  ludicrously  disparag- 
ing tones  still  linger  in  the  ear,  with  which  he  would 
repeat  Cicero's  "  Trahimur  omnes  laudis  studio"  &c, 
in  contrast  with  the  superior  dignity  and  nobleness  of 
Christian  motive.  It  may  safely  be  inferred,  that,  in 
the  freshness  of  his  earlier  days,  his  sons  found  their 
home  a  place  of  genial  nurture. 

When  not  yet  fourteen,  Daniel,  in  connection  with 
his  brother  Joseph  (two  years  older),  was  encouraged 
by  their  father  to  commence  a  singing-school.  The 
need  was  doubtless  urgent;  for  the  tradition  is,  that,  in 
those  days,  the  pastor's  wife,  seated  in  her  chair  in  the 
centre  of  the  square  pew,  had  often  much  difficulty  in 
preserving  the  gravity  of  the  juveniles  around  her, 
under  the  moving  effect  of  the  uncouth  sounds  from 
the  singers'  seats.  At  the  opening  of  the  school,  not 
the  expected  thirty  or  forty,  but  one  hundred  pupils 
made  their  appearance.  The  school  was  divided,  and 
four  evenings  in  the  week  occupied,  instead  of  two.  Its 
success  was  great,  and  its  "linked  sweetness  long 
drawn  out"  beyond  any  possible  imagining  of  the 
j'outhful  teachers;  for  some  of  those  introduced  by 
them  into  the  choir  kept  their  places  there  forty  years! 
In  the  old  South  Church  in  Ipswich,  there  might  be 
seen,  years  ago,  in  the  long  gallery  fronting  the  white- 
haired  pastor,  a  row  of  grave,  elderly  men,  the  grad- 
uates of  his  sons'  singing-school  forty  years  before. 
Very  grateful  to  his  feelings  was  their  long  fidelity ; 
albeit  time  added  to  the  music  some  quavers  not  set 
down  in  the  books. 

Soon  after,  the  brothers  commenced  also  a  high- 
school  for  young  ladies.  This  they  successfully  con- 
l* 


6  EARLY  YEARS. 

ducted  till  they  left  home  for  college.  The  report  has 
come  down  to  us  that  the  school  of  these  juvenile 
teachers  was  remarkable  for  the  perfect  order  and  de- 
corum which  their  presence  maintained. 

Their  father,  absent  on  a  visit  to  Boston,  writes,  June 
17,  1785,  to  his  son  Daniel,  then  not  yet  fourteen, 
"  This  is  five  o'clock,  and  it  naturally  puts  me  in  mind 
of  your  schools.  Pray  be  enterprising  in  both,  so  as  to 
engage,  if  possible,  a  lively  attention  in  the  misses  to 
their  respective  parts,  and  render  those  parts  pleasing 
to  them.  And,  before  all  things,  study  to  approve 
yourself  to  God,  my  dear,  in  every  thing  you  under- 
take, and  depend  on  him  for  his  aid,  who  can  help  you 
through  every  difficulty,  and  make  your  work  easy." 


CHAPTER    II. 

1786—1788. 

College  Life.* 

.  "  Whilst  the  brothers  were  thus  occupied  at  Ips- 
wich, their  father  paid  a  visit  to  the  home  of  his  pa- 
rents, at  Lebanon,  N.H.,  a  few  miles  from  Dartmouth 
College.  This  was  in  the  autumn  of  1785.  He  took 
with  him  an  axe,  in  order  to  hew  for  himself  a  carriage- 
road  over  those  rough  and  wooded  hills.  He  attended 
the  commencement  exercises  at  Hanover,  and,  dining 
with  the  college  faculty,  mentioned  to  some  of  them 
that  he  had  two  sons  prepared  for  college.  Profs. 
Ripley  and  Woodward  soon  after  took  him  aside,  and 
proposed  receiving  the  students  into  their  families, 
while  he  in  return  should  receive  under  his  roof  and 
parental  training  two  or  three  of  their  children.  This 
proposal  was  accepted,  and  the  good  news  conveyed 
to  the  brothers  before  the  return  of  their  parents  to 
Ipswich.  Prof.  Smith  came  to  Lpswich  the  ensuing 
winter,  examined  them,  and  pronounced  Daniel,  as 
well  as  his  elder  brother,  prepared  for  advanced  stand- 
ing in  college.  They  reached  Hanover  in  season  for 
the  second  term  of  the  Sophomore  year.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  presents  the  writer  as  he  was  at  the  age. 
of  fourteen :  — 

*  Near  the  close  of  his  life,  some  reminiscences  of  his  college  days 
were  obtained  from  him  by  one  of  his  daughters.  The  narrative  in  the 
first  part  of  this  chapter  is  from  her  pen,  which  has  also  given  efficient 
aid  to  the  entire  biography. 

7 


8  COLLEGE  LIFE. 

"  Dartmouth  College,  7th  February,  1786. 
"  Honored  and  dear  Parents, — 

"We  have  now  passed  more  than  a  week  at  this 
place,  and  find  it  exceedingly  agreeable  —  indeed,  it 
could  not  well  be  otherwise,  when  we  have  such  a 
good  father  and  mother  here ;  but  I  cannot  express 
how  I  long  to  see  you  and  my  dear  sisters  and  brother. 
It  seems  as  if  I  had  been  from  home  a  month,  and 
was  never  to  see  you  again.  Pray  let  me  have  a  let- 
ter as  soon  as  possible. 

"  When  we  came  here,  we  found  that  our  class  had  got 
through  algebra,  and  were  studying  geometry;  there- 
fore we  began  upon  geometry,  and  have  now  advanced 
so  far  as  to  recite  with  them.  We  find  them  very 
agreeable  and  kind,  and  have  been  so  happy  as  to  form 
some  little  acquaintance  with  some  of  them. 

"  I  have  not  time  to  write  a  long  letter,  therefore,  after 
much  love  to  all  the  family,  must  conclude  by  subscrib- 
ing, my  dear  parents, 

"Your  dutiful  and  affectionate  son, 

"Daniel  Daista." 

A  letter,  two  years  later,  refers  to  the  sudden  death 
of  Prof.  Ripley,  and  shows  the  deep  impression  it 
left  upon  his  heart.  As  I  sit  to-day  by  his  bedside 
(Jan.  28,  1859),  he  refers  to  it  in  earnest  and  pathetic 
tones,  as  if  it  were  a  grief  of  yesterday.  He  repeats, 
for  the  first  time,  perhaps,  in  seventy  years,  the  ojjen- 
-ing  and  latter  half  of  the  closing  stanza  of  Professor 
Smith's  Elegy :  — 

"  From  earth's  dark  regions  to  the  skies, 
Saints,  joyful,  take  their  flight,  and  rise; 
The  tears  are  wiped  from  all  their  eyes. 


COLLEGE  LIFE.  9 

Released  from  care,  released  from  pain, 
Ne'er  to  be  vexed  with  sin  again, 
They  live,  they  love,  rejoice,  and  reign. 

The  resurrection  of  the  just, 

While  we  dear  Ripley's  corse  to  dust 

Convey,  affords  us  joy  and  trust." 

Among  his  fellow-students  there  was  one  who  re- 
ceived him,  at  first,  with  warm  courtesy,  and  paid  him 
those  marked  and  kind  attentions  best  adapted  to  win 
the  heart  of  an  unsophisticated  youth.  But  before  long 
he  received  evidence  of  this  young  man's  moral  worth- 
lessness,  and  quietly  withdrew  from  his  society.  Be- 
tween him  and  several  others  of  his  class  there  arose 
friendships  strong,  tender,  and  enduring.  First  among 
these  chosen  ones  was  Arnold,  of  Providence,  whom 
he  described  as  by  far  the  most  brilliant  and  attractive 
member  of  the  class.  Next  was  Hyde,  afterwards  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hyde  of  Lee,  Mass.,  who,  after  an  interval  of 
long  years,  wrote  him,  "  I  loved  you  at  college ;  and  I 
have  loved  you  ever  since."  There  was  Montague,  too 
sensitive  and  reserved  for  the  attainment  of  a  high 
degree  of  what  the  world  counts  success.  In  the  class 
next  succeeding  was  Daniel  Hardy,  regarded  at  the 
time  as  the  brightest  intellect  within  the  walls  of  Dart- 
mouth,—  handsome  in  person,  and  ardent  in  character.* 

On  the  17th   of  September,  1788,  he  took  his  first 

*  About  thirty-five  years  afterwards  he  was  much  gratified  by  a  visit 
from  Daniel  Hardy,  still  of  fine  personal  appearance,  and  vivacious 
(though  he  had  been  a  little  unsettled)  in  mind.  Their  conversation 
was  very  interesting,  and  their  singing  together  delightful.  He  said  of 
Mr.  Hardy,  after  he  had  taken  his  departure,  "  I  remember,  as  if  it  were 
yesterday,  how  he  appeared  on  the  stage  at  Dartmouth,  in  the  bloom  of 
youth,  of  fine  person,  reciting  Collins'  '  Ode  on  the  Passions;'  his  very 
voice  was  music." 


10  COLLEGE  LIFE. 

degree.  Of  the  four  appointments  given  out  for  the 
day,  instead  of  the  usual  number,  three,  his  was  a 
Greek  Oration. 

It  was  with  surprise,  not  sympathy,  that  he  had  lis- 
tened to  the  expressions  of  pleasure  with  which  some 
of  his  classmates  anticipated  their  emancipation  from 
the  restraints  of  Alma  Mater.  To  him,  it  was  quitting 
a  loved  shelter  to  embark  upon  an  uncertain  sea. 
Within  her  halls,  and  engnged  in  pursuits  most  con- 
genial to  his  tastes,  he  had  secured  the  love  of  his 
revered  teachers,  and,  by  his  zealous  study  of  the  Greek 
and  Roman  immortals,  particularly  Homer,  had  ob- 
tained the  specially  warm  approbation  of  that  good 
man,  and  lover  of  the  classics,  Prof.  Smith. 

Here,  too,  had  he  felt  the  first  more  conscious  actings 
of  a  Heaven-directed  love  and  joy,  which  were  destined 
to  burn  higher  and  purer  as  the  years  and  ages  should 
roll  away. 

He  could  not  remember  the  time  when  he  had  lived 
without  prayer  and  serious  reflection ;  but  it  was 
during  his  junior  year,  that  he  was  conscious  of  more 
decisive  resolutions  of  self-consecration.  He  attended 
the  meetings  of  some  of  the  students  for  conference  and 
prayer,  and  for  verbal  and  written  discussion  of  ques- 
tions in  divinity  ;  but  his  not  being  a  member  of  the 
Church  probably  deterred  him  from  taking  a  prominent 
part.  On  a  subsequent  visit  to  Ipswich,  he  connected 
himself  with  the  church  of  which  his  father  was 
pastor." 

During  his  college  course,  and  for  several  subsequent 
years,  his  history  is  chiefly  supplied  by  his  father's  let- 
ters. To  those  who  find  biography  in  nothing  more 
useful  and  attractive  than  as  it  reveals  the  influences  by 


COLLEGE  LIFE.  11 

which  character  has  been  formed,  the  extracts  that  fol- 
low will  not  seem  irrelevant  or  too  numerous.  Not 
without  interest,  in  addition  to  their  wise  and  pious 
counsels,  is  the  glimpse  afforded  of  New  England  three- 
fourths  of  a  century  ago,  and  the  picture  so  uncon- 
sciously given,  so  undesignedly  left  to  a  future  genera- 
tion, of  a  Christian  family,  all  whose  members  have 
passed  away,  save  two,  —  then  in  earliest  childhood, 
now  in  honored  old  age.* 

The  letters  that  follow  cover  a  period  already  passed 
over  in  the  narrative.  At  the  date  of  the  earliest  of 
them,  the  younger  of  the  brothers  was  in  his  fifteenth 
year.  At  the  close  of  his  long  life  they  were  found 
carefully  preserved.  The  indorsement  on  the  first  is, 
"  Hon'd  Father,  Feb.  6th,  1786." 

"  To  Messrs.  Joseph  and  Daniel  Dana,  Dartmouth  College. 

"My  dear  Boys, —  Since  you  left  us,  we  have 
received  two  letters  with  the  signatures  of  Daniel, 
one  from  Newburyport,  the  other  from  Pembroke. 
We  suppose  it  highly  probable  that  others,  bearing  the 
signature  of  Joseph,  may  be  on  the  way,  and  at  any  rate 
consider  you  as  one  in  all  your  letters,  and  shall  treat 
you  as  one  in  ours.  It  has  contributed  not  a  little  to 
our  comfort  to  hear  of  your  progress  so  far;  and  when 
I  contemplate  you,  as  I  now  do,  as  having  arrived  at 
the  desired  place  of  your  destination,  I  am  still  more 
comforted  than  before.  When  I  think  of  you  as 
engaged,  with  a  number  of  fine  associates,  in  prosecut- 
ing your  delightful  studies  under  your  worthy  instruc- 
tors, I  must  felicitate  you  and  myself,  painful  as  the 
separation  is  to  us  here,  and  I  suppose  to  you  also. 
I  thank  Heaven,  there  is  no  need  that  I  should  stim- 

*  Appendix. 


12  COLLEGE  LIFE. 

ulate  you  to  diligence  in  your  studies,  unless  you  are 
altered  from  what  you  were  with  me.  As  to  method 
in  study,  and  the  best  means  of  preserving  your  ideas 
&c.,  it  is  probable  you  may  receive  advantage  by  hints 
from  others ;  and  I  wish  you  to  pay  great  attention  to 
such  hints  upon  these  heads  as  you  shall  receive  from 
time  to  time  from  your  instructors;  for  much  depends 
on  having  a  good  plan  of  study,  and  much  time  has 
been  laboriously  thrown  away,  in  many  instances,  for 
want  of  it.  For  which  reason,  Quanquam  a  Cratippo 
nostro  haec  te  assidue  audlre  atque  accipere  confido,  * 
yet  it  is  a  wonder  if  I  shall  not  be  officious  enough 
sometimes  to  throw  in  such  thoughts  as  occur  to  me. 
For  the  present  let  me  only  desire  you  in  general  to 
write  as  much  as  you  conveniently  can,  and  let  me 
have  the  pleasure  (I  am  pretty  sure  it  will  be  a  great 
one)  of  seeing,  when  you  return,  your  collections, 
remarks,  &c.  I  have  said,  heretofore,  what  I  wish  you 
to  do  upon  Cicero  de  Oratore,  if  you  shall  find  time  for 
it.  Suppose  you  should  do  something  similar  upon  all 
your  most  valuable  authors,  —  more  or  less  as  you  shall 
find  time,  —  reviving  withal  that  method  you  once 
begun  with,  of  noting  down,  at  first  going  over,  the 
pages,  and  parts  in  pages,  which  contain  the  most  strik- 
ing passages,  especially  sentiments,  and  what  appears 
most  worthy  to  be  reviewed  and  remembered. 

"Let  me  also  recommend  to  you  to  have  each  of 
you  a  memorandum-book  in  which  to  lay  up  your  own 
thoughts :  I  mean  any  valuable  ideas  upon  any  sub- 
ject which  may  occur  to  you  or  which  you  may  meet 
with  in  conversation.  Let  this  be  a  i)erfect  miscellany, 
without   form,  order,  or  connection,  except  that  you 

*  Vide  Cic,  de  Officii,  p.  102. 


COLLEGE  LIFE.  13 

will  put  down,  first,  ideas  and  observations  on  the  sub- 
ject which  first  occurs,  and  as  many  as  naturally  and 
easily  occur  at  the  time,  and  then  strike  them  off,  and 
distinguish  them  by  No.  1,  No.  2,  &c.  You  will  find 
this  of  great  use  to  habituate  you  to  thinking;  and  it 
will  be  a  magazine  from  whence  you  will  be  able  to 
fetch  out  great  part,  perhaps,  of  what  you  will  want, 
when  you  come  to  composition  upon  any  interesting 
theme.  But  I  must  have  a  care  not  to  burden  you 
beyond  your  bearing.  Be  not  so  studious  as  not  to 
take  care  of  your  health,  or  neglect  necessary  action. 

u  Toil  strung  their  nerves,  and  purified  their  blood." 

This  is  good  philosophy,  and  it  will  hold  of.  walking, 
or  any  well-chosen  exercise. 

"  But  with  all  your  attentions  to  health  of  body 
and  improvement  of  mind,  my  dear  children,  remember 
the  one  thing  needful.  Let  the  sacred  Scriptures  be 
honorable  with  you,  as  the  most  important  and  estima- 
ble of  all  writings;  and  let  prayer  be  your  constant 
and  delightful  exercise.  Those  that  honor  him,  God 
will  honor ;  and  those  who  despise  him  shall  be  lightly 
esteemed." 

"  Ipswich,  Feb.  12,  1786. 

"  We  miss  you  much  this  evening,  as,  indeed,  upon 
every  Lord's-day  evening.  We  want  our  fine  bass  and 
fine  counter  to  make  up  the  harmony.*     Yet,  if  you 

*  A  reminiscence  may  be  appropriate  here  in  respect  to  the  writer 
of  the  above.  "  He  was  enthusiastically  fond  of  music,  particularly  of 
a  sacred  character,  for  which  he  had  a  fine  voice  and  an  exquisite  ear. 
His  family  will  never  forget  his  rapt  appearance,  when  his  eight  chil- 
dren united  with  him,  as  they  sometimes  did,  in  singing  in  four  parts 
the  morning  or  evening  hymn  around  the  domestic  altar;  and  when,  in 
2 


14  COLLEGE  LIFE. 

may,  where  you  are,  give  true  praise  and  worship  to 
your  God  and  Saviour,  and  if  you  may  be  fitted  for 
some  eminent  service  in  Christ's  kingdom,  what  a 
favored  parent  shall  I  be !  This,  my  dear  young  friends, 
I  am  pretty  sure,  is  my  principal  wish  for  you;  and  all 
thing's  else  are  small  compared  with  this.  In  this  idea 
and  hope  I  grudge  no  care,  no  labor  in  your  behalf,  nor 
any  expense  within  my  power,  which  may  promote  the 
important  design. 

"  I  have  been  trying  to  drop  some  hints  to-day  on 
seeking  the  things  which  are  Jesus  Christ's.  And  I 
will  add  for  your  sake,  dear  youth,  as  I  cannot  now 
discourse  to  you  every  day,  that  if,  in  all  your  studies, 
you  seek  the  things  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  set  it  before 
you  as  yojir  primum  and  ultimicm  to  serve  his  great 
purposes,  he  will  bless  your  studies,  and  you  shall  find 
a  certain  solidity  attending  all  your  acquirements. 
Otherwise  there  will  be  a  vacuum  which  nothing  can 
fill.  Seek,  then,  with  your  whole  souls,  the  true  knowl- 
edge of  Christ,  and  look  to  it  that  your  hearts  are 
attached  to  his  interest.  Let  nothing  divert  your  atten- 
tion from  this  object.  Let  nothing  prevail  with  you  to 
treat  it  as  being  but  of  secondary  consequence." 

Writing  to  them,  June  1,  1786,  just  after  his  return 
from  the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hale  of  Boxford,  he 
says,  — 

"It  appears  a  high  blessedness  to  be  a  good  man, 
and  especially  a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  even 
though  one  is  called  off  early.     I  have  been  not  so 

the  height  of  his  excitement,  he  would  unconsciously  leave  his  seat,  and 
station  himself  in  different  parts  of  the  room,  and  even  in  the  entry,  with 
the  hand  over  one  ear,  the  better  to  enjoy  the  concord  of  sweet  sounds." 
—  Letter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dana,  in  Sjwague's  Annals,  vol.  L,  page  600. 


COLLEGE  LIFE.  15 

solicitous  for  you  to  have  long  life,  as  that  you  might 
be  the  friends  and  servants  of  the  best  of  Masters,  and 
go  home  to  him  when  he  shall  please  to  call  you,  —  be 
it  earlier  or  later." 

In  a  letter  of  Feb.  14,  1787,  alluding  with  great 
grief  to  the  then  recent  death  of  Prof.  Ripley,  he  adds 
at  the  close,  "  How  consoling  do  you  imagine  it  was 
to  me  to  find,  in  the  last  letter  from  your  dear  paternal 
friend  that  I  am  ever  to  receive,  this  honorable  mention 
of  you  both  :  '  Their  steady  application  and  agreeable 
deportment  must  make  them  scholars  and  secure  them 
friends." 

In  another  letter,  he  speaks  of  procuring  for  them 
some  cloth  —  "  Parson's  Gray  "  —  of  American  manu- 
facture, and  adds,  "  I  wish,  that,  in  such  a  time  as  this, 
an  example  of  this  kind  might  be  given  by  the  classes 
as  they  are  graduated." 

The  financial  disorder  of  these  times  is  indicated  in 
another  letter,  in  which  the  writer  speaks  (with  no  dis- 
satisfaction) of  having  got  together  "  two  dollars " 
towards  the  payment  of  his  sons'  bills.  How  much  of 
the  Continental  currency  these  answered  to  at  that 
time  is  not  stated. 

To  these  letters  may  be  appropriately  added  one 
from  the  Rev.  David  Tappan,  afterward  professor  in 
Harvard  College. 

"Newbury,  April  26,  17^ 

"Dear  Sir, —  The  esteem  and  affection  which  I 
bear  to  your  excellent  parents  give  me  a  lively  and 
sensible  interest  in  every  thing  which  contributes  to 
their  honor  and  happiness.  And  as  wise,  virtuous,  and 
dutiful  children  are  eminently  their  parents'  joy  and 
crown,  so  I  cannot  but  take  a  sincere  part  in  the  satis- 


16  COLLEGE  LIFE. 

faction  which  your  good  father  and  his  amiable  consort 
derive  from  this  source.  I  particularly  rejoice  in  the 
agreeable  characters,  both  in  a  moral  and  literary  view, 
of  his  two  sons  at  college.  With  mingled  admiration 
and  pleasure  have  I  contemplated  the  remarkable 
smiles  of  heaven  which  have  attended  his  laudable  but 
arduous  undertaking  to  give  them  a  liberal  education, 
particularly,  in  blessing  them  with  two  successive 
fathers  at  the  university,  whose  generous  patronage 
and  provision  have  so  greatly  lessened  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  carrying  them  through  a  collegiate  course,  — 
a  consideration  which,  I  doubt  not,  has  had  its  weight 
with  you  and  your  brother,  to  engage  you  to  the  best 
improvement  of  advantages  granted  to  you  in  a  man- 
ner so  distinguishing.  You  have  undoubtedly  felt  that 
such  a  wise  and  grateful  use  of  your  privileges  was  the 
just  expectation  both  of  heaven  and  earth,  —  was  a 
sacred  tribute  which  you  owed  to  your  God,  to  your 
friends,  to  your  fellow-creatures,  and  to  yourselves.  I 
rejoice  to  hear  that  you  have  appeared  to  act  under 
the  governing  influence  of  these  ideas.  I  especially 
thank  you,  my  dear  sir,  for  the  pleasing  proofs  which 
your  letters  and  other  productions,  sent  to  your  Ips- 
wich friends,  have  given  of  your-  attention  and  profi- 
ciency, as  well  as  of  a  good  and  feeling  heart.  I  hope 
the  pleasure  which  you  hereby  give,  not  only  to  your 
immediate  connections,  but  to  all  who  love  them  and 
you,  will  be  an  additional  stimulus  to  a  mind  so  gener- 
ous as  yours  to  go  forward  in  the  unbounded  field  of 
knowledge  and  virtue.  Amidst  all  your  other  studies, 
you  will  not  forget  that  religious  '  wisdom  is  the  prin- 
cipal thing,'  and  will  therefore  make  this  the  great 
centre  and  scope  of  all  your  literary  pursuits  and  ac- 


COLLEGE  LIFE.  17 

quisitions,  devoutly  referring  and  consecrating  them  to 
the  superior  interests  of  God  and  his  Son,  of  Christian 
truth  and  holiness.  With  the  best  wishes  for  your 
welfare  in  all  respects,  and  that  of  your  brother,  I  sub- 
scribe, your  sincere  friend, 

"David  Tappan. 

"P.S.  You  will  much  oblige  me  by  favoring  me  with 
a  share  in  your  epistolary  correspondence." 


2* 


CHAPTER    III. 

1788-1791. 
A  Year  at  Hanover.  —  Two  Years  at  Exeter. 

Having  been  appointed  Preceptor  of  Moor's  School, 
in  connection  with  Dartmouth  College,  soon  after 
graduation  he  entered  on  his  new  duties.  To  a  youth 
of  seventeen,  the  position  must  have  been  one  of 
weighty  responsibility.  That  the  separation  from  his 
brother  and  fellow-students,  and  the  transition  from 
the  republican  freedom  and  abounding  joyousness  of 
college  life,  could  not  but  cast  some  shade  over  his 
spirit,  those  can  well  understand  who  have  been  placed 
in  similar  circumstances. 

His  father  writes,  Feb.  1,  1789,  "Very  unex- 
pectedly, Mr.  President  called  on  us  to-day  for  a  short 
time.  I  am  happy  to  hear  the  agreeable  account  he 
brings  of  your  health,  your  conduct,  and  the  good  ac- 
ceptance you  meet  with.  .  .  .  Adieu,  my  dear  son. 
You  are  much  upon  my  heart.  Continue  to  make  me 
happy  as  you  have  done ;  and  get  as  near  to  God  as 
possible,  and  prepare  to  do  something  for  him  which 
shall  eminently  glorify  his  great  name." 

"March  8,  1789.  —  We  feel  for  you  most  tenderly 
in  your  present  solitude,  and  must  have  a  visit  in  your 
vacation,  short  as  it  is,  if  you  can  make  it  convenient. 
But  pray,  if  you  do  come,  do  not  encumber  yourself  in 
this  bad  season  with  a  poor  horse.  I  have  but  little 
news  to  tell  you.     We  have  this  day  been  following  to 

18  * 


HANOVER.  19 

the  grave  Mr. ,  in  his  ninety-second  year.     Poor 

old  man!  May  God  grant  you  and  me  to  lay  up  in  a 
better  manner  against  the  time  of  need.  'Are  you 
prepared,  master,'  said  honest  old  Cato.  'Oh,  no!' 
said  the  poor  man,  'I  have  left  that  alone.'  May  Di- 
vine mercy,  my  dear  child,  prevent  us.  There  is  not 
in  the  universe  a  more  foolish  creature  than  man  left  to 
his  own  imaginations." 

In  another  letter,  his  father  says,  "I  rejoice  that  the 
affairs  of  your  school  are  in  a  good  train,  and  that  I 
hear  you  mentioned,  from  time  to  time,  with  so  much 
honor." 

While  thus  occupied  at  Hanover,  measures  were  in 
progress  to  transfer  him  to  a  still  more  honorable  and 
eligible  position.  The  founder  of  Phillips  Academy, 
at  Exeter,  an  institution  of  higher  rank  and  on  a  more 
ample  scale  than  is  usually  indicated  by  the  term  Acad- 
emy, was  desirous  to  secure  his  services.  His  father 
writes,  May  31,  1789,  — 

"As  long  ago  as  April  Court  term,  Judge  Phillips,  of 
Andover,  who  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  Exeter  Acad- 
emy, inquired  after  you  with  a  degree  of  earnestness  ; 
and  since  that  time  I  have  had  opportunity  of  convers- 
ing at  large  with  him  at  his  own  house.  I  now  en- 
close to  you  an  extract  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received 
from  him  lately. 

[Extract,  May  14,  1789-1 

" '  After  your  friendly  visit,  I  wrote  very  soon  to  my 
uncle  at  Exeter,  and  have  received  his  answer,  the  pur- 
port of  which  is  that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  him  to 
see  your  son  Daniel  placed  in  the  Academy  at  Exeter 
as  soon  as  he  can  be  obtained  with  propriety.  He 
wishes  you  to  write  to  your  son  by  the  first  opportu- 


20  HANOVER. 

nity  to  prevent  his  making  any  engagements  that  will 
interfere  with  this  proposal.  If  he  should  not  come 
till  the  commencement  at  Dartmouth,  it  is  wished  that 
he  should  succeed  Mr.  Abbot  in  the  station  he  now 
holds.  Interim,  if  your  elder  son  will  undertake  as  a 
brother  instructor  with  Mr.  Abbot  it  will  be  agreeable 
to  him  (my  uncle)  ;  and  he  proposes  the  same  compen- 
sation which  was  given  to  Mr.  Abbot  when  he  first 
engaged. 

"  '  As  transient  conveyances  of  letters  are  very  uncer- 
tain, would  it  not  be  well  to  write  more  than  one  letter 
to  your  son,'  &c. 

"  You  will  see  that  the  younger  Mr.  Phillips  is  in 
earnest  to  obtain  you.  So,  I  find,  is  his  uncle,  at  Exe- 
ter, the  founder  of  the  Academy,  whom  I  have  seen 
lately.  I  understand  by  Col.  Phillips  that  he  has  writ- 
ten lately  to  Mr.  Woodward  on  the  subject ;  that  he 
also  relies  on  a  general  promise  Mr.  President  made 
him  in  the  winter,  that  he  will  not  oppose  your  coming. 
On  my  part,  I  have  complied,  as  you  see  ;  and  it  is  my 
desire  that  you  enter  into  no  engagement  which  will 
interfere  with  the  proposition  now  before  you.  I  have 
gone  upon  the  supposition  that  you  are  engaged  where 
you  are  until  commencement.  After  that  we  expect 
you  to  return  to  us,  and  be  at  liberty  to  go  where 
Providence  points  the  way. 

"Write  me  as  soon  as  possible  your  whole  heart. 
Write  me  fully  upon  all  your  affairs.  I  hope  it  will  be 
agreeable  to  you  to  be  nearer  to  us  if  heaven  sees  best. 

.  .  .  "Shall  I  congratulate  you  that  our  beloved 
Washington  appears  again,  and  greater  than  ever? 
Shall  I  pray  you  to  set  him  before  you  as  a  model,  and 
drink  deep  into  his  spirit  ?     I  think  I  may ;    for  I  be- 


EXETER.  21 

lieve  it  to  be  a  spirit  from  above,  and  wish  it  were 
everywhere  diffused." 

The  following  was  written  four  days  later. 

"  To  Daniel  Dana,  Preceptor  of  Moor's  School, 
Dartmouth  College. 

"Dear  Sir, —  I  was  at  your  father's  this  week.  In 
his  usual  kindness,  he  showed  me  a  letter  from  Judge 
Phillips.  You  are  to  be  invited,  I  know  not  bnt  you 
are  already,  to  Exeter  Academy.  You  know  that  I 
wish  Moor's  School  well ;  but  Exeter  Academy  is  an 
important  affair.  I  rejoice  on  two  accounts,  —  theirs 
and  yours.  I  think  it  may  be  to  your  advantage  to  go 
to  Exeter.  That  Academy  is  pretty  well  endowed  ; 
it  has  a  large  fund ;  it  needs  a  good  preceptor,  and  it 
will  flourish.  Go,  dear  brother:  you  have  always  one 
friend  while  remains 

"Timothy  Dickinson. 

"Newbury,  June  4,  1789." 

His  father  writes  (July  19,  1789),  "  You  will  come 
as  soon  as  may  be  after  commencement.  Yet  1  must 
not  oppose  your  taking  Exeter  in  your  way,  as  your 
brother  will  be  there,  at  Col.  Phillips's;  and  this  may 
preclude  the  necessity  of  going  thither  again  till  you 
have  had  something  of  a  vacation." 

Near  the  end  of  autumn,  Mr.  Dana  went  to  Exeter, 
where  he  was  received  with  the  utmost  kindness  by 
Col.  John  Phillips,  the  founder  of  the  academy,  under 
whose  roof  he  passed  two  happy  years.  In  later  times 
he  said  of  Col.  (Judge)  Phillips,  that  he  had  never 
since  known  a  layman  so  well  read  in  theology.  His 
father  writes  (Dec.  16,  1789),  "I  expected,  indeed,  that 
you  would  enjoy  yourself  in  that  worthy  family  in 


22  EXETER. 

which  Providence  has  placed  you  ;  but  to  observe  the 
reasons  of  satisfaction  upon  which  you  lay  the  strongest 
emphasis  raises  my  pleasure  still  higher." 

A  little  remnant  of  the  "patriarchal  institution"  still 
lingered  in  New  England  at  this  time.  Col.  Phillips  had 
an  old  and  indulged  black  servant,  to  whom  one  day, 

with  affected  gravity,  he  said,  "  Well, ,  as  you  have 

been  a  faithful  servant  a  good  while,  and  are  now  get- 
ting old,  I  think  I  shall  give  you  your  timer  The  vete- 
ran left  the  presence  without  reply;  but  in  the  passage 
to  the  kitchen  was  overheard  soliloquizing,  "  Massa  say 
he  gib  me  my  time.  What  I  do  wid  my  time  ?  He  gib 
'em  to  me,  I  no  take  'em,  no  hob  ''em''''  (with  indig- 
nant emphasis). 

At  Exeter,  Mr.  Dana  found  cultivated  and  genial 
society ;  and  there  commenced  the  warm  and  enduring 
friendship  between  himself  and  Mr.  Abbot,  who  for  fifty 
subsequent  years  gave  celebrity  to  Exeter  Academy, 
being  honored  with  such  pupils  as  Daniel  Webster,  and 
others  of  distinguished  name. 

Near  the  close  of  his  first  year  at  Exeter,  his  father 
writes  (Nov.  14,  1790),— 

"  I  am  still  desirous  that  you  should  read  the  Scrip- 
tures in  the  way  I  have  sometimes  hinted,  noting  for 
review  such  parts  as  strike  you  more  particularly,  and 
making  your  own  remarks  in  writing,  as  briefly,  or  as 
much  at  large,  as  the  present  impression  leads  you ; 
noting  some  for  subjects  of  conversation  with  proper 
persons,  or  of  more  particular  inquiry.  And  I  could 
wish  you  to  transcribe  for  more  perfect  remembrance, 
many  of  the  more  sublime  or  otherwise  remarkable 
passages,  in  the  prayers,  thanksgivings,  benedictions, 
of  inspired  writers ;  or  in  the  descriptions,  prophecies, 


EXETER.  23 

or  discourses  upon  great  subjects.  This  is  a  favorable 
season  for  treasuring  up  what  it  will  be  useful  through 
life  to  be  well  stored  with. 

"Your  aunt  Fisher  really  entertained  herself  and  us 
in  telling  how  you  are  beloved  at  Exeter. 

"  When  you  have  read  Sheridan  as  much  as  you  de- 
sire, we  should  be  glad  of  him  here  ;  yet  do  not  hurry 
yourself.  I  think  that  Sam  is  now  in  a  good  way  as  to 
Latin  and  Greek  ;  and  I  shall  try  to  make  him  an  Eng- 
lish scholar." 

A  youth  from  Ipswich  —  then  at  Exeter  Academy  — 
used,  in  after  years,  to  speak  of  Mr.  Dana's  great  popu- 
larity as  a  teacher.  His  classical  attainments  were  in 
high  repute  ;  and  "  the  older  scholars  were  always  glad 
when  his  turn  came  to  officiate  at  prayers." 

His  pleasant  memories  of  Exeter  appear  in  a  letter  to 
his  friend,  Mr.  Abbot,  March,  1793  :  — 

"  Your  observations  on  satirical  wit  are  too  true,  and 
too  frequently  exemplified.  Indeed,  what  passes  under 
that  name  is  generally  neither  more  nor  less  than  the 
malice  of  the  heart  a  little  disguised  by  the  paint  which 
the  imagination  lends  it.  What  a  hateful  composition  ! 
And  yet  how  often  do  we  see  the  possessors  of  it  ad- 
mired, flattered,  envied,  and  imitated. 

"It  is  impossible  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  wit,  and 
not  call  to  mind  the  circle  in  which,  with  you,  I  have 
spent  so  many  hours,  equally  delightful  and  improving. 

And  I  am  sure  that  if  it  ever  was  found  pure,  and 
unalloyed  by  any  odious  mixture,  it  was  there." 


CHAPTER    IV. 


1791-1793. 


Theological  Studies  at  Ipswich.  —  Teaching. — 
Entrance  on  the  Ministry. 

At  the  close  of  his  second  year  at  Exeter,  he  was 
urged  to  continue  there  as  a  permanent  instructor  ;  and 
many  proofs  were  given  then,  as  in  subsequent  years, 
of  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
Phillips  family :  but  his  heart  was  set  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry;  and,  near  the  end  of  autumn,  1791,  he  re- 
turned to  Ipswich,  "  hoping  (as  he  says)  to  be  uninter- 
rupted in  the  study  of  divinity"  with  his  father.  But 
he  was  soon  pressed,  with  an  urgency  which  he  could 
not  refuse,  to  take  charge  of  the  classical  school  at 
Ipswich.  This  was  a  serious  impediment  to  his  theo- 
logical studies ;  but  he  had  already  made  considerable 
advance  in  them.  Several  common-place  books  still 
extant,  in  which  he  had  followed  out  the  suggestions 
of  his  father's  letters,  were  probably  begun  at  Exeter. 

His  theological  studies  must  have  been,  to  borrow 
Dr.  Chalmers'  expression,  rather  intensive  than  exten- 
sive. It  appears  from  the  memoir  of  the  Buckminsters 
(a  biography  of  unique  interest)  that  "  Dr.  Dana  of 
Ipswich  "  was  one  of  those  with  whom  Dr.  Buckmin- 
ster  desired  that  his  gifted  son  should  study  divinity. 
But  the  facilities  of  theological  education  then  were  no 
more  in  proportion  to  those  possessed  now,  than  was 
the  slender  library  of  the  Ipswich  pastor  to  the  well- 

24 


ipswicii.  25 

filled  shelves  of  modern  seminaries.  Still,  what  is 
gained  in  surface  is  sometimes  lost  in  depth;  and, 
however  Mr.  Dana  might  have  prized  the  magnificent 
exegetical  aids  which  German  scholarship  has  elabor- 
ated, the  (so-called)  philosophic  theology  of  Germany 
could  never  have  been  otherwise  than  repulsive  to  a 
mind  so  earnest  and  reverent  in  its  search  for  the  pure 
and  simple  truths  of  divine  revelation.  He  had  seen, 
before  he  left  college,  the  effect  of  a  little  taste  of  Ger- 
man criticism  in  unsettling,  for  a  time,  the  religious 
convictions  of  a  highly  esteemed  fellow-student.  This 
had  left  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind. 

Nor  is  it  likely  that  German  mysticism,  any  more 
than  German  skepticism,  would  have  fascinated  one 
who,  within  the  limits  of  human  knowledge,  desired 
clear  ideas  clearly  expressed,  and,  beyond  those  limits, 
regarded  bold  speculation  on  sacred  themes  as  an  in- 
trusive impertinence. 

"  And  fools  rash  in  where  angels  fear  to  tread  " 

was  a  favorite  quotation  with  him  in  later  life ;  and  not 
less  so  the  conclusion  of  Cowper's  beautiful  apostrophe 
to  the  author  of  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress  : "  — 

"  And  not  with  curses  on  his  art  that  stole 
The  gem  of  truth  from  his  unguarded  soul." 

His  school  at  Ipswich  closed  with  an  exhibition. 
One  of  the  dialogues  was  from  Addison's  Cato.  Con- 
sulting his  elder  brother  as  to  some  mode  of  softening 
the  expression,  "  Ten  thousand  curses  fasten  on  them 
both,"  the  latter  gravely  suggested  one  that  he  thought 
"not  more  than  half  as  bad;"  namely,  "Five  thousand 
curses,"  &c. 


20  Ipswich. 

Oct.  7,  1792,  he  writes  Mr.  Abbot,  expressing  Iris 
great  regret  at  being  unable  to  be  with  him  at  the  ex- 
hibition at  Exeter:  "And  so  the  little  dream  of  hap- 
piness in  which  my  fancy  has  now  and  then  been 
rioting  is  vanished ;  but  all  the  powers  on  earth  shall 
not  hinder  my  being  with  you  in  imagination,  and,  what 
is  more,  in  affection.  I  will  go  with  you  to  the  vener- 
able mansion  ;  at  examination,  I  will  be  at  your  elbow. 
I  will  attend  you  to  the  Doctor's  and  to  the  meeting- 
house. I  will  have  my  shnre  in  your  pleasures  and 
your  vexations,  in  your  anxieties  while  something  is 
yet  to  come,  and  your  lightness  of  heart  when  all  is 
over." 

What  Mr.  Dana  was  as  a  friend  appears  very  vividly 
in  his  letters  to  Mr.  Abbot.* 

In  May,  1793,  he  received  licensure,  of  which  the 
following  is  the  record  : 

"  To  whom  it  may  concern,  greeting,  —  These  certify 
that  Mr.  Daniel  Dana,  A.M.,  appeared  before  the  Essex 
Middle  Association,  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Levi  Frisbie's,  Ips- 
wich, May  14,  1793,  for  trial  and  approbation  as  a  candi- 
date preacher  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  that,  after 
hearing  him  deliver  an  excellent  discourse,  on  Heb.ii.3, 
'  How  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation  ; ' 
and  receiving  satisfactory  answers  to  a  large  number 
of  questions  upon  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  religion, 
both  natural  and  revealed  ;  and  the  modest  declara- 
tion of  his  faith  and  hope  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  of  the 
motive  of  his  offering  himself  to  be  a  candidate  for  the 
work  of  the  gospel-ministry,  —  cheerfully  and  unani- 

*  A  package  of  these  letters,  returned  after  Dr.  Abbot's  decease,  has 
supplied  some  valuable  passages  to  this  biography. 


IPSWICH.  27 

mously  voted,  that  they  can,  and  do,  approbate  and 
recommend  the  said  Mr.  Danial  Dana,  as  a  qualified 
candidate  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Attest,  Jonx  Cleavelastd,  Moderator? 

The  above  certificate  was  accompanied  with  a  kind 
letter  from  "  Father  Cleaveland,"  as  he  was  then  called. 
He  had  been  a  chaplain  in  the  old  French  war,  and  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.     He  writes, — 

"  I  hope  God  will  endow  you  with  a  strong  faith,  and 
make  you  to  be  a  burning  and  a  shining  light." 

Preaching  his  first  sermon  soon  after  at  Ipswich,  Mr. 
Dana  was  haunted  with  the  idea  that  the  people  must 
be  disgusted  by  his  vociferation,  but  was  relieved,  upon 
coming  out  of  church,  by  his  father's  good  deacon  ex- 
pressing warm  approbation,  but  begging  that  in  future 
he  would  "  try  to  raise  his  voice  a  little." 

He  still  for  a  time  continued  his  studies  at  Ipswich, 
from  which  place  he  wrote  thus  to  his  friend  at  Exeter, 
July  11,  1793  :  — 

"  Yours,  give  me  leave  to  say,  is  the  most  friendly, 
agreeable,  instructive,  and  encouragii*>'  letter  that  1 
have  received  this  long  time.  Your  ideas  on  the  sub- 
ject of  preaching  and  preachers  have  my  complete  ac- 
quiescence, though  some  of  them  were  in  a  great  mea- 
sure new  to  me.  'Tis  true  there  are  many  trials  and 
difficulties  attending  the  employment;  and  probably 
these  are  still  increasing ;  but,  after  all,  there  are  so 
many  things  in  it  which  must  be  so  exactly  congenial 
to  every  good  mind,  so  many  which  to  such  an  one 
must  bring  a  present  reward,  that,  if  any  one  who  has 
engaged  in  it  and  has  any  tolerable  prospect  of  success, 
does  not  find  it  the  principal  source  of  his  pleasures,  it 


28  HAMPTON. 

must  be  a  melancholy  symptom  of  something  wrong 
within.  And  to  me  there  appears  in  the  expression  of 
the  great  and  good  apostle  a  heroism  that  casts  into 
shade  all  the  displays  of  the  kind  that  ever  I  read  in  any 
poet  in  my  life  :  '  But  none  of  these  things  move  me  ; 
neither  count  I  my  life  dear  to  myself,  so  that  I  might 
finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I 
have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel 
of  the  grace  of  God.'  " 

How  he  spent  the  latter  part  of  this  year  we  learn 
from  a  letter  written  by  his  father,  addressed  to  "  Mr. 
Daniel  Dana,  preacher  of  the  gospel  at  Hampton."  The 
writer  says  (Dec.  6,  1793), — 

"Though  we  always  part  with  you  with  regret,  yet 
we  enjoy  the  thought  that  you  are  acting  an  important 
part  on  the  stage  of  life,  and  the  animating  hope  that 
you  will  be  made  a  blessing  to  mankind. 

"  Though  I  know  but  little  of  Hampton,  I  have  pre- 
sumed that  you  will  pass  your  four  weeks  not  disagree- 
ably. Mr.  Merrill  called  yesterday  (being  still  one 
of  the  committee),  and  wished  to  know  whether  you 
had  other  engagements  beyond  your  four  weeks  at 
Hampton ;  as  they  would  wish  to  engage  you  again  for 
New  Rowley  if  you  are  at  liberty." 

The  writer's  good  horse  had  met  with  some  injury 
(a  serious  matter  when  there  were  no  stage-coaches). 
He  says  in  a  subsequent  letter,  "  We  are  trying  what 
good  provender  can  do  to  raise  up  the  spirits  of  our 
faithful  Rosinante.  Already  the  good  creature  looks 
much  better.  .  .  .  Sam  is  doing  finely.  You  would  smile 
to  hear  how  popular  he  becomes.  Scholars  are  still 
coming  in  to  him  ;  his  number  more  than  fifty.  ...  I 
have    another   letter   from    Mr.  Cabot,  dated   Jan.  3. 


HAMPTON.  29 

He  speaks  of  Congress  as  '  surrounded  with  difficulties 
which  require  the  exertion  of  every  virtue  to  encounter.' 
I  believe  they  are  ;  and  we  must  pray  for  them  accord- 
ingly." Jan.  21,  1794,  after  alluding  to  "the  kind  re- 
ception everywhere  met  with  thus  far"  by  his  son,  he 

thus  proceeds:    "Mr.  S preached  for  us   in  the 

afternoon  of  last  Sabbath  ;  sound,  solemn,  but  in  his 
manner  less  agreeable  than  at  the  first.  If  a  preacher, 
by  bringing  his  heart  up  to  his  work,  and  losing  himself 
in  it  and  in  love  to  his  auditory,  comes  more  and  more 
into  nature  and  simplicity  as  he  advances,  'tis  a  good 
advance  truly.  It  sometimes  happens  that  the  longer 
one  goes  a  candidating,  the  more  recourse  he  has  to 
art  and  labor  and  unnatural  tones  to  recommend  him. 
I  have  always  been  happy  to  hear  of  you  as  a  child 
of  nature,  and  very  free  from  every  kind  of  affectation  ; 
and  the  best  way  I  know  to  preserve  it  is  to  let  one's 
heart  go  more  and  more  into  the  truth  he  delivers,  and 
expand  more  and  more  in  the  way  of  kind  affection  to 
his  hearers  as  he  addresses  them." 

On  the  third  day  of  February,  1794,  the  church  at 
Hampton  gave  him  a  call  to  become  their  pastor. 
There  had  been  some  local  dissensions  among  them,  and 
the  call  was  not  unanimous.  His  answer  in  the  nega- 
tive was  accompanied  by  the  following  letter :  — 

"  Hampton,  March  15,  1794. 
"  Dear  Sir,  —  I  cannot  persuade  myself  to  take  leave 
of  a  place  in  which  I  have  been  honored  with  tokens  of 
the  most  cordial  friendship,  by  numbers  whom  I  highly 
esteem,  without  repeatedly  expressing  my  grateful, 
affectionate  sense  of  their  kindness.  It  is  with  many 
painful  sensations  that  I  now  part  with  them.  It  is, 
however,  if  I  know  my  own  heart,  a  sense   of  duty 

3* 


30  HAMPTON. 

which  has  prompted  my  conduct :  a  regard  not  only  to 
my  own  happiness  (which  I  think  myself  allowable  in 
consulting  in  a  certain  degree),  but  to  that  of  the  people 
in  this  place. 

"  I  know  that  it  has  been  frequently  suggested,  that 
there  is  no  probability  of  there  being,  at  any  future 
time,  a  greater  degree  of  union,  if  so  great,  as  there  is 
at  present.  Such  observations  have  always  given  me 
pain ;  but  they  would  have  given  me  much  greater, 
if  I  had  supposed  them  sufficiently  grounded.  Give 
me  leave  to  ask  whether  the  probability  is  not  on  the 
contrary  side?  Is  it  not  highly  probable,  that,  when 
each  part  of  the  town  has  had  a  share  of  disappointment, 
many  obstacles  to  their  union  which  have  existed  will 
exist  no  more?  Since  both  may  now  set  out  on  terms 
perfectly  equal,  is  not  the  prospect  somewhat  promising, 
that  there  may  be  hereafter  a  harmony  and  union  nearly 
complete  ?  To  have  been  the  instrument  of  preparing 
the  way  for  this  will  ever  afford  me  the  highest  satis- 
faction ;  and  that  it  may  soon  take  place  is  my  most 
ardent  wish.  Above  all,  let  me  entreat  of  those  wTho 
have  been  desirous  of  my  tarrying  to  keep  up  no  party 
or  contention  on  my  account ;  for  they  may  be  assured 
that  nothing  will  give  me  equal  pain.  Let  me  entreat 
them  never  to  relax  their  endeavors  to  effect  a  union  in 
some  preacher  who  will  be  likely  to  do  good ;  since,  if 
they  humbly  and  diligently  wait  on  Heaven  in  this 
way,  there  is  great  reason  to  hope  that  their  desires 
may  ere  long  be  accomplished. 

"  You  will  please  to  communicate  what  I  have  sug- 
gested to  as  many  as  you  shall  think  best;  and  permit 
me  to  subscribe, 

"  Your  cordial  friend  and  servant, 
"  Col.  Jonathan  Garland."  "  L\   DANA. 


HAMPTON.  31 

That  he  gained  the  confidence  of  those  who  were  at 
that  time  divided,  appears  from  an  official  note,  written 
years  afterward,  when  the  pulpit  at  Hampton  was  again 
vacant,  Dr.  Appleton  having  been  called  to  the  presi- 
dency of  Bowdoin  College.     It  commences  thus  :  — 

"  Hampton,  Jan.  6,  1808. 
"  Rev.  Daniel  Dana. 

"Sir, —  The  town  and  Congregational  society  have 

instructed  their  committee  for  supplying  the  desk,  not 

to  introduce  any  gentleman  as  a  candidate  until  he  shall 

have  received  a  recommendation  from  you,  &c." 


CHAPTER   V. 

1794. 
Commencement  of  his  Ministry  at  Newburyport. 

By  invitation  of  the  session  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Newburyport,  he  commenced  preaching 
there  on  the  23d  of  March,  1794.  An  imme- 
diate interest  was  awakened,  and  a  movement  made 
for  the  continuance  of  his  services.  In  this  church, 
Whitefield  had  preached  ;  beneath  its  pulpit,  his  mortal 
remains  still  rest. 

In  a  letter  dated  April  9,  his  father  says,  "We 
certainly  ought  to  bless  God  for  so  favorable  a  recep- 
tion still  given  to  you.  And  when  so  much  cordiality 
is  shown  by  so  respectable  a  society,  and  an  invitation 
given  which  is  thought  to  express  the  general,  if  not 
the  universal  wish,  the  opinion  of  your  friends  here  is, 
that  you  should  comply  with  a  grace.  You  have  no 
need  to  be  cautioned  against  carrying  an  air  of  pre- 
sumption as  to  the  final  issue.  Nor,  on  the  other  side, 
against  so  committing  yourself  as  to  be  precluded  from 
deliberating  hereafter  upon  any  questions  of  form  and 
order  which  may  come  in  the  way." 

The  wisdom  of  this  last  counsel  was  made  very  con- 
spicuous by  subsequent  events. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  a  call  to  the  pastoral  office  was 
given  him  by  the  church,  and  on  the  19th  of  the  same 
month,  "  at  a  legal  meeting  of  the  Presbyterian  society, 


NE  WB  UR  YP  ORT.  33 

Hon.  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  Moderator,  it  was  voted  to 
concur  Avith  the  church  in  giving  Mr.  Daniel  Dana  a 
call  to  settle  with  us  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  Yeas, 
112;  nays,  10." 

This  is  termed  in  the  church  records,  "  As  full  a  meet- 
ing as  is  almost  ever  known."  The  result  was  perhaps 
as  near  an  approach  to  unanimity  as  could  have  been 
expected  in  their  peculiar  circumstances.  In  addition 
to  older  causes  of  dissension,  the  previous  year  they 
had  been  nearly  equally  divided  as  to  a  candidate ;  and 
the  discordance  thus  excited  was  not  likely  to  be  soon 
removed.  But  the  ten  negative  votes  were  of  impor- 
tance, as  seven  of  them  were  from  church-members, 
including  some  from  the  session. 

Another  difficulty  in  the  way  of  accepting  the  call 
was  the  exceedingly  isolated  position  of  the  church. 
From  its  origin,  it  had  stood  very  much  alone.  White- 
field,  and  after  him  Gilbert  Tennent,  had  preached  in 
Newbury.  Great  religious  excitement  followed,  of 
which  one  result  was,  that  large  numbers,  connected 
with  the  First  and  Third  Congregational  Churches,  dis- 
satisfied with  their  pastors,  withdrew,  and  were  ulti- 
mately united  in  a  new  church,  which  adopted  the  Pres- 
byterian form.  But  this  they  were  not  permitted  to  do 
peacefully.  Their  secession  was  regarded  as  disorderly  ; 
and  as,  in  those  days,  the  law  exempted  none  but 
"Churchmen,  Anabaptists,  and  Quakers  "  from  parish 
taxation  for  the  support  of  the  parish  minister,  this 
bitter  element  was  superadded  to  the  usual  asperities 
of  a  church  feud,  that  they  were  compelled  to  contrib- 
ute to  the  support  of  the  minister  they  had  left.  Their 
unhappy  experience  of  Congregationalism  as  sustained 
by  law,  and  the  hope  of  securing  exemption  from  its 


31  SETTLEMENT  AT 

burdens,  led  them  to  adopt  the  Presbyterian  form  of 
government;  bat  still  it  was  not  till  1770  that  they 
entirely  escaped  the  clutches  of  the  parish  tax-gatherer. 

Great  prejudice  existed  against  them  during  the  life 
of  their  first  pastor,  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  a  good 
and  able  man,  the  friend  of  Whitefield.  His  successor, 
the  Rev.  John  Murray,  a  native  of  Ireland,  educated  at 
Edinburgh,  was  a  popular  pulpit  orator,  and  not 
wanting  in  talent,  energy,  and  religious  zeal;  but,  un- 
happily, he  was  chargeable  with  some  moral  obliquity 
in  having  early  made  use  of  credentials  not  quite 
genuine.  This  sin  of  his  youth,  however  repented  of, 
had  not  been  ecclesiastically  forgiven.  Leaving  the 
presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and,  as  he  thought,  their 
jurisdiction,  he  found  —  or  made  —  (being  himself  a 
large  part  of  it)  a  presbytery  in  Maine,  that  recognized 
him.  In  those  days,  there  being  no  general  assembly, 
each  presbytery,  and  sometimes  each  church,  did  what 
was  right  in  its  own  eyes.  After  Mr.  Murray's  settle- 
ment at  Newburyport,  "  a  very  considerable  proportion 
of  the  neighboring  clergy  declined  intercourse  with  him. 
This  threw  back  an  odium  on  his  character,  in  which  it 
was  impossible  his  people,  however  blameless  they 
might  have  been,  should  fail  to  participate.  Their 
harmonious  intercourse  with  many  of  the  surrounding 
churches,  during  the  whole  ministry  of  Mr.  Murray, 
was  interrupted."* 

Dissensions  also  sprung  up  among  themselves.  Du- 
ring the  long  sickness  which  preceded  Mr.  Murray's 
death,  a  young  missionary  of  Lady  Huntingdon's 
school,  who,  at  his  suggestion,  had  been  employed  as 
his  assistant,  caused  a  large  secession  from  his  church. 

*  Rev.  S.  P.  Williams's  "Historical  Discourse,"  p  ige 


NEWBURYPORT.  35 

The  splendid  voice  and  eccentric  originality  of  Mr. 
Charles  TV.  Milton  could  not  but  produce  a  sensation  ; 
and  Mr.  Murray,  declining  in  health  and  years,  saw 
crowds  of  his  late  admirers  rushing  after  the  stranger 
who  could  charm  them  with  oratorical  thunders  louder 
than  his  own.  They  formed  a  separate  church,  and,  by 
a  mode  of  instalment  quite  their  own,  made  Mr.  Milton 
their  pastor.  Thus  was  one  more  added  to  the  circle 
of  neighboring  churches  between  which  and  the  Pres- 
byterian no  friendly  feeling  existed.  Indeed,  at  this 
time,  it  held  but  little  intercourse  with  the  numerous 
Congregational  churches  which  were  near,  and  almost 
none  with  Presbyterian  churches,  these  being  few  and 
remote. 

Must  this  state  of  things  continue?  If  so,  could  he 
identify  himself  with  it?  These  were  questions  which 
the  pastor  elect  could  not  avoid,  and  which  he  met 
with  the  simplicity,  frankness,  and  decision  which  be- 
longed to  his  character.  The  following  paper  is  in  his 
handwriting:  its  date  is  July  10,  1794:  — 

"  Honored  and  Beloved,  —  In  the  call  lately  pre- 
sented, you  have  given  me  such  proof  of  your  candor 
and  esteem  as  commands  my  warmest  gratitude.  Nor 
will  I  attempt  to  conceal  the  agreeable  impression 
which  has  been  made  upon  nay  mind  by  the  general 
appearance  of  this  Society,  the  solemnity  and  decorum 
of  the  public  assemblies,  and  the  acquaintance  which  I 
have  had  opportunity  to  form  with  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  individuals. 

"But,  before  I  give  that  definitive  answer  which  will 
involve  in  it  consequences  of  the  greatest  moment,  per- 
mit me,  in  full  confidence  of  that  candor  which  you 


36  SETTLEMENT  AT 

have  ever  shown  me,  to  open  my  heart  upon  certain 
points  which  to  me  are  interesting,  and  to  you,  as  I 
humbly  conceive,  an  object  deserving  attention. 

"  It  cannot,  my  respected  fathers  and  brethren,  have 
escaped  your  notice,  that,  united  as  we  are  in  the 
great  essentials  of  religion,  our  habits,  with  respect  to 
discipline  and  form  of  government  in  the  church,  have 
been  different.  It  is  therefore  justly  expected  of  me, 
on  the  supposition  of  accepting  the  call,  that  I  come 
prepared  to  accommodate  myself  to  the  existing  meth- 
ods of  practice  in  this  society,  so  far  as  yourselves, 
upon  a  deliberate  view,  shall  judge  necessary  and  con- 
ducive to  your  best  edification. 

"And  if,  when  this  is  done,  there  shall  remain  other 
points  in  which  I  may  be  indulged  without  injury  to 
your  religious  interests,  may  not  such  indulgence 
strengthen  instead  of  weakening  our  union  ?  as,  in  that 
case,  it  will  have  mutual  accommodation  for  the  bond 
of  it,  which  is  perhaps  one  of  the  most  pleasing  and 
lasting  bonds. 

"I  have,  then,  no  questions  to  move  respecting  the 
internal  order  and  government  of  this  society.  If  the 
church  shall  judge  that  an  administration  by  a  chosen 
eldership  will  best  answer,  in  this  place,  the  ends  of 
that  government  which  our  Lord  has  ordained,  I  can 
cheerfully  acquiesce  in  it. 

"  But,  in  regard  to  communion  of  churches,  I  cannot 
refrain  from  wishing  that  this  society,  if  I  am  to  be  re- 
ceived into  it,  may  be  equally  open  to  Presbyterian 
and  Congregational  connections.  And  I  submit  it  to 
consideration,  whether,  in  the  present  state  of  things, 
it  would  not  be  gain  rather  than  loss,  to  recur,  in  this 
respect,  to  the  original  form  in  which  this  church  was 
settled. 


NEWBURYPOBT.  37 

"  All  are  sensible  that  many  circumstances  are  mate- 
rially different  since  the  church  first  joined  itself  to  the 
presbytery ;' and  it  is  obvious,  that,  when  a  presbytery  is 
so  diminished  that  a  sufficient  number  for  council  upon 
important  occasions  cannot  be  included  without  ex- 
tending to  a  very  great  distance,  the  privilege  to  each 
church  so  connected  is  much  diminished:  being  con- 
fined to  it  for  council  becomes  inconvenient ;  attending 
its  meetings,  laborious.  Indeed,  there  is  not  vicinity 
enough  for  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  state  of  each 
particular  church  to  give  the  best  advice  upon  all  occa- 
sions, or  for  affording  every  assistance  which  need  may 
require. 

"  It  is  therefore  submitted,  whether,  returning  to  the 
liberty  .  of  choosing  (as  well  as  affording)  council 
among  Presbyterian  or  Congregational  churches,  as 
shall  be  found  convenient,  will  not  be  a  resuming  of  a 
real  advantage,  both  for  doing  and  receiving  good. 

"  One  thing  is  certain  :  that  it  would  much  enlarge 
the  influence  of  a  respectable  church,  so  conveniently 
situated  as  this  is  for  active  fellowship  with  a  large 
number  of  Christian  societies ;  and  it  will  happily 
cherish  that  generous  Christian  love  which  finds  a  high 
pleasure  in  embracing  and  tenderly  uniting  itself  to  all 
good  men,  of  whatever  denomination.  I  frankly  ac- 
knowledge, my  honored  fathers,  that  with  me  this  is  a 
favorite  object ;  and  I  can  scarcely  entertain  a  doubt 
that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  you. 

"  As  to  this  town  in  particular,  where  of  necessity  we 
most  often  mix  and  converse  together,  permit  me  to 
say  what  a  happiness  I  should  esteem  it,  to  see  Chris- 
tians of  different  congregations  as  united  and  harmoni- 
ous as  possible,  and  to  be  at  liberty  to  improve  that 

4 


38  SETTLEMENT  AT 

candid  reception  with  which  I  have  hitherto  been  in- 
dulged in  the  other  societies,  to  my  own  advantage, 
and  to  the  promotion,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  of  the 
common  cause  of  Christianity. 

"  I  have  brought  up  those  considerations  which  per- 
haps ought  to  have  the  principal  weight.  It  may  be 
of  less  consequence  to  others,  though  to  me  it  is  a  circum- 
stance which  comes  near  home,  that  my  most  endeared 
connections  are  among  ministers  of  the  Congregational 
way,  whom  I  must  find  it  both  unnatural  and  painful 
not  to  honor,  upon  all  occasions,  with  particular  affec- 
tion, or  not  to  have  as  near  connection  with  as  with 
any  others  in  all  religious  or  ecclesiastical  transactions. 
If  such  a  sacrifice  were  necessary  for  the  common  in- 
terest of  Christianity,  I  hope  I  should  not  decline  it ; 
but,  if  it  is  not,  your  candor,  my  honored  fathers  and 
brethren,  I  doubt  not,  will  wish  to  relieve  me. 

"  Let  me  entreat  your  fervent  prayers,  that  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  may  prepare  me  for  his  sacred 
work,  and  make  every  part  of  duty  plain  to  me ;  that, 
if  I  come  to  you,  it  may  be  in  the  fulness  of  the  bless- 
ing of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

"  May  it  please  him  to  direct  the  concerns  of  this 
society  to  his  own  glory  and  their  highest  edification, 
is  the  constant  prayer  of  your  affectionate  brother  and 
servant  in  the  gospel,  "D.  Dana. 

"  To  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  Society  in  Newburyport." 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  how  expressive  this  docu- 
ment is  of  the  spirit  and  principles  which  marked  his 
whole  subsequent  life.  He  was  at  this  time  not  quite 
twenty -three  years  of  age. 

This  paper  deserves  to  be  read  with  the  same  discrim- 


NE  WB  UR  YP  OR  T.  39 

i nation  with  which  it  was  written.  It  is  by  no  means, 
what  it  has  been  more  than  once  in  print  represented 
to  be,  an  invitation  to  the  church  to  renounce  Presbyte- 
rianism,  and  become  Congregational.  "  Communion 
of  churches,"  is  its  subject;  and  what  it  suggests  is 
"  to  recur,  in  this  respect,  to  the  original  form  in 
which  this  church  was  settled,"  which  was  Presbyte- 
rian*  but  not  of  the  exclusive,  isolated  "form"  which 
Mr.  Murray's  difficulties  had  tended  to  create.  Its  foun- 
ders, in  the  prefiice  to  their  platform  of  government, 
say,  "We  shall  readily  join  with  those  churches  that 
explicitly  declare  they  have  not  departed  from  the  an- 
cient faith."  Again,  two  years  later  (1748),  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  General  Court,  they  say,  "  Your  petitioners 
beg  leave  to  suggest  that  they  never  intended,  because 
they  were  Presbyterians,  which  respects  the  form  of 
church  government  only  (according  to  the  general  un- 
derstanding of  the  words),  that  therefore'  they  could 
not  attend  the  worship  of  God  in  a  Congregational 
church ;  but  their  difficulties  are  of  a  higher  nature, 
and  concern  doctrinal  points,  which  bind  their  con- 
sciences," &c. 

"The  form  of  government  was,  at  first,  one  which 
might  properly  be  called  independent  Presbyterian." 
Soon  after  its  organization  was  completed,  "  negotia- 
tions were  commenced,  which,  at  length,  resulted  in  a 
connection  with  the  Presbytery  of  Boston."  "  They 
often  protested,  that,  by  becoming  Presbyterians,  they 
had  no  intention  to  withdraw  from  free  intercourse 
with  their  Congregational  brethren."  | 

*  "  The  founders  organized  this  a  Presbyterian  church."  Rev.  Mr. 
Vermilye's  "Historical  Discourse,"  page  40. 

f  Rev.  J.  F.  Stearns'  "  Historical  Discourse,"  pages  34,  35. 


40  SETTLEMENT  AT 

It  was  to  this  "  original  form  in  which  this  church 
was  settled  "  —  not  Congregational,  but  liberal  Presby- 
terian—  that  the  paper  refers.  The  question  which 
pressed  on  the  writer  of  it  was,  whether,  by  accepting 
the  call  tendered  to  him,  he  would  be  held  to  ecclesias- 
tical non-intercourse  with  his  own  father  (whose  coun- 
sel he  was  constantly  seeking),  and  with  the  good  and 
eminent  ministers,  frequent  visitors  at  his  father's  house, 
who  had  looked  kindly  on  him  from  his  childhood, 
and  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  his  prospective  useful- 
ness in  the  gospel  ministry.  This  appears  very  plainly 
in  his  father's  letters  at  that  time,  still  extant.  In  a 
letter,  written  by  himself  to  his  friend  Mr.  Abbot,  he 
speaks  of  the  presbytery  as  numbering  but  four  or  five 
active  ministers,  two  of  them  "  at  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  miles"  (nearly  a  week's  journey  in 
those  times),  and  all  personally  strangers  to  him,  and 
adds,  that  to  be  ordained  exclusively  by  these  would 
seem  to  him  "  too  much  like  a  renunciation  of  former 
connections,  even  the  nearest." 

"Active  fellowship  with  a  large  number  of  Christian 
societies"  is  the  subject  of  the  paper,  in  contrast 
with  severance  of  the  writer's  "  most  endeared  connec- 
tions,"—  separation  from  those  ministers  whom  he 
must  "  find  it  both  unnatural  and  painful  not  to  honor 
upon  all  occasions  with  particular  affection,  or  not  to 
have  as  near  connection  with,  as  with  any  others,  in 
all  religious  or  ecclesiastical  transactions." 

In  response  to  this  appeal,  the  session  (perhaps  the 
church)  "  voted  unanimously,  that  we  still  adhere  to  the 
constitution  of  this  church,  and  our  connection  with 
the  presbytery,  and  desire  further  to  hold  ministerial 
and  church  communion  with  such  other  ministers  and 


NE  WB  VR  YPORT.  41 

churches  as  are  united  with  us  in  the  great  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  in  the  same  manner  as  hereto- 
fore practised  in  this  church."* 

An  affirmative  answer  was  now  given  to  the  call. 
More  than  two  months  had  elapsed  since  it  was  ten- 
dered. 

Hitherto  Mr.  Dana  had  not  been  brought  into  contact 
with  Presbyterianism,  which  was,  indeed,  very  much 
an  exotic  in  New  England.  Still  it  is  observable 
that  the  paper  he  presented  to  the  church  intimates 
no  scruple  as  to  personal  connection  with  Presbytery. 
But,  in  after  years,  the  esteem  and  veneration  which  he 
felt  for  the  great  and  good  men  with  whom  he  became 
acquainted  at  the  meetings  of  the  general  assembly  and 
other  church  judicatories,  and  the  conservatism  of  that 
system,  so  much  in  harmony  with  his  cherished  tastes 
and  principles,  gave  it  an  increasingly  strong  hold  on 
his  convictions  and  preferences.  Still,  wherever  the 
great  essential  doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  adhered  to 
with  equal  fidelity  by  Congregation alists  and  Presby- 
terians, lie  counted  the  things  in  which  they  differed  of 
far  less  importance  than  those  as  to  which  they  were 
agreed. 

At  that  time  (1794),  the  church  in  Newburyport  had 
not  adopted  the  constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States.  This  it  did  at  a  later  period, 
under  his  own  ministry.  But,  even  under  that  con- 
stitution, Presbyterianism  was  not  precisely  the  same 
then  as  now.  In  1791,  all  Presbyterian  ministers  who 
chose  to  be  present  were  invited  to  sit  as  correspond- 
ing members  of  the  general   assembly.!     Ten    years 

*  Stearns'  "  Historical  Discourse,"  page  58. 
t  "  Life  of  Dr.  Alexander,"  page  96. 

4* 


42  SETTLEMENT  AT 

later,  the  famous  "  Plan  of  Union  "  with  Congregation- 
alists  was  adopted  by  stanch  Presbyterians.  There 
was  nothing  then  anti-presbyterian  in  such  communion 
with  neighboring  Congregational  churches  as  was 
plainly  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  solitary  Presby- 
terian church  in  Newburyport. 

After  the  acceptance  of  the  call,  there  still  remained 
some  difficulties  as  to  who  should  be  invited  to  officiate 
at  the  ordination.    His  father  writes  (Sept.  28, 1794), — 

"It  is  of  very  great  consequence  to  waive,  and  in  a 
friendly  way  to  check,  all  discussion  respecting  the  late 
pastor,  and  the  comparative  merits  of  those  who  did 
and  those  who  did  not  exchange  with  him.  The  real 
question  is,  whether  any  thing  shall  now  be  done  to 
cloud  the  prospect  of  general  harmony  with  good  men  ? 
The  question,  is  whether  everything  should  not  be  done 
to  cherish  that  harmony  ? 

"The  session  have  voted  to  hold  communion,  &c, 
and  very  properly  ;  but  a  pointed  discrimination,  now 
set  up,  would  go  far  to  defeat  that  intention,  as  it  would 
be  lifting  up  the  standard  of  hostility  against  many 
whose  gifts  might  have  afforded  much  comfort  and  edi- 
fication to  the  society. 

"If  you  shall  become  a  member  of  the  presbytery, 
as  you  expect,  in  case  of  settling  here,  you  will  be 
among  the  first  to  treat  them  with  due  honor,  and  to 
have  as  much  intercourse  with  them  as  their  situation 
will  admit ;  but  every  one  sees  that  your  exchanges 
must  be  chiefly  with  others  who  are  nearer,  &c." 

lie  writes  again,  on  the  6th  of  November, — 

"  Be  cheered,  my  son,  by  the  evident  tokens  of  divine 
favor  upon  you.  Your  prospects  as  to  having  a  united 
and  affectionate  people  are  as  promising  as  almost  any 


WE  WB  Uli  YP  OR  T.  43 

one's  in  these  times.  Have,  then,  but  one  care  now, 
that  of  being  a  blessing  in  your  important  sphere." 

In  the  end,  all  things  were  arranged  satisfactorily ; 
and,  on  the  19th  of  November,  1794,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Newburyport.  The  following  is  extracted  from  the 
"Newburyport  Herald  "  of  Nov.  21,  1794  :  — 

"  On  Tuesday  evening  last,  the  Presbytery  of  London- 
derry, agreeably  to  previous  appointment,  together 
with  a  number  of  corresponding  Congregational  minis- 
ters, convened  in  this  town  for  the  purpose  of  attending 
to  the  final  trials  of  Mr.  Daniel  Dana,  in  order  for 
ordination  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  congregation  here.  On  Wednesday,  the 
public  solemnities  were  performed,  in  the  meeting- 
house, in  the  following  order :  the  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes 
of  Southampton  made  the  introductory  prayer.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Dana  of  Ipswich  preached  the  sermon,  from 
Acts  xx.  24.  The  Rev.  Dr.  M'Clintock  of  Greenland 
made  the  consecrating  prayer.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison 
of  Londonderry  gave  the  charge.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Mil- 
timore  of  Stratham  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship; 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frisbie  of  Ipswich  the  concluding 
prayer.  The  candor  and  Catholicism  displayed  in  the 
combination,  so  entirely  harmonious,  between  the  min- 
isters of  different  denominations,  and  that  upon  so 
important  and  conspicuous  an  occasion,  must  give  sin- 
cere pleasure  to  every  friend  of  that  religion  whose 
prominent  feature  is  charity.  A  numerous  and  respect- 
able company  of  singers  afforded,  by  their  perform- 
ances, high  pleasure  to  a  large  audience,  who  displayed 
through  the  whole  solemnities  a  degree  of  attention 
and  decorum  worthy  of  remark  and  commemoration." 


44  SETTLEMENT  AT 

The  sermon,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  ordination 
service,  were  published  by  request ;  as  also  the  sermon 
of  the  pastor  on  the  sabbath  following,  from  2  Cor. 
ii.  16,  "Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?  " 

At  this  time  commenced  his  long  connection  with 
the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry.  He  found  in  that 
body,  then,  and  in  succeeding  years,  fathers  and  breth- 
ren of  congenial  sentiments  with  himself,  and  in  char- 
acter worthy  of  his  high  respect  and  esteem;  and  by 
them  he  was  always  beloved  and  honored.  AVith  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Morrison  of  Londonderry,  his  friendship  was 
specially  warm  and  intimate.  His  relations  to  the 
presbytery  appear  to  have  been  uniformly  pleasant, 
from  the  period  of  his  reception  to  it,  in  the  freshness 
of  his  youth,  to  the  day  when  another  generation  of 
its  members  gathered  around  his  couch  to  bid  farewell 
to  the  patriarch  whose  pilgrimage  was  then  nearly  at 
its  close. 

The  Rev.  James  Miltimore,  who  took  part  in  his 
ordination,  continued  his  friend  and  neighbor  for  more 
than  forty  years.  The  kind  manners  and  the  vener- 
able, benignant  aspect  of  that  good  man  are  still  fresh 
in  memory. 

From  this  year  (1784)  to  the  end  of  his  life,  with 
the  exception  of  an  interval  of  five  and  a  half  years 
in  New  Hampshire,  Mr.  Dana's  residence  was  in  that 
beautiful  town  (now  city)  of  Newburyport,  which  the 
passing  stranger  easily  recognizes  as  one  of  the  "  pleas- 
ant places"  of  the  earth,  and  of  which  her  native 
sons,  however  long  and  far  removed  from  the  localities 
dear  to  childhood,  speak  always  with  enthusiasm.  One 
who  has  been  a  traveller  in  many  lands,  may  yet  look 
with  undiminished  delight  on  the  Ions;  line  of  beauti- 


NEWBURYPOIiT.  45 

fal  residences  in  High  Street,  with  their  terraced 
gardens  and  grounds  ;  and  on  the  magnificent  prospect 
thence  of  land  and  sea  in  the  clear  light  of  a  sum- 
mer's day,  or  when  autumn  sheds  a  mellow  lustre  over 
the  round  hills  on  the  banks  of  the  Merrimack.  Nor 
has  there  been  wanting  to  Newburyport  a  goodly  heri- 
tage of  intellectual  culture  and  religious  influence. 
Many  honored  names  are  associated  with  her  history, 
either  as  natives  or  residents;  and  scarcely  anyplace  in 
the  land,  of  similar  size,  has  supplied  an  equal  number 
of  members  to  the  clerical  profession. 

In  a  letter  written  Nov.  23,  1794,  a  few  days  after 
the  ordination,  his  father  says,  "  You  have  an  impor- 
tant sphere  of  usefulness.  The  kind  reception  you  meet 
with  the  multitude  of  that  numerous  society  is  cer- 
tainly encouraging  in  regard  to  the  progress  of  the. 
gospel.  And  it  is  not  a  duty  to  indulge  anxiety  as  to  the 
opposition  ;  though  you  would  not  despise  any  one 
who  has  a  soul.  That  happy  combination  of  qualities 
mentioned  by  the  apostle  deserves  your  remembrance 
and  mine:  'God  hath  not  given  us  the  spirit  of  fear, 
but  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind.'  May 
you  be  filled  with  such  a  spirit,  and  by  it  rise  superior 
to  every  opponent  and  every  difficulty! 

"  The  solemnity  and  decorum  observed  by  that  great 
assembly,  and  the  tender  affection  appearing  in  so 
many,  comfort  me  much  upon  every  remembrance. 
Be  animated,  my  son  ;  be  strong  in  the  grace  of  Christ, 
our  blessed  Master.  Let  your  performances  carry  more 
and  more  of  freedom.  And,  especially,  let  them  ex- 
press a  heart  which  loves  your  people,  and  ardently 
wishes  their  eternal  good. 

"Adieu,  "J.  Da^a." 


CHAPTER     VI. 

1795-1800. 

Withdrawal  of  the  Minority.  —  Pastoral  Duties. 
— Yellow  Fever.  —  Injury  to  his  Eyes.  —  Suc- 
cess as  a  Peace-maker.  —  Marriage. 

During-  the  earlier  months  of  his  pastoral  connection, 
Mr.  Dana's  principles  were  tested  by  the  course  pur- 
sued by  those  who  had  been  adverse  to  his  settlement. 
They  declined  to  acquiesce  in  the  decision  of  the 
church  and  the  presbytery.  Nothing  was  objected  to 
him  personally,  except  his  youth;  but  his  preaching 
seemed  to  some  not  sufficiently  doctrinal.  They  missed 
doubtless,  some  phrases  long  familiar  to  their  ears ; 
as,  from  the  isolated  position  of  this  Church,  one  style  had 
long  prevailed  in  the  pulpit.  Divine  truth  in  the  sim- 
plicity and  symmetry  of  its  scriptural  forms  is  not  so 
attractive  to  some  as  are  the  idols  of  scholastic  manipu- 
lation. His  style  had  been  formed  on  classic  models ; 
and,  instead  of  restricting  himself  to  a  few  favorite 
topics,  he  aimed  to  introduce  his  hearers  (to  borrow 
his  own  expression)  to  the  "  whole  generous  circle  of 
scripture  truths."  It  is  remarkable,  that,  of  the  long 
list  of  his  printed  discourses,  none  are  more  replete  with 
doctrinal  instruction  than  some  of  the  earliest  of  the 
series.  *       The   presbytery   were  perplexed   with    no 

*  The  Second  and  Thii-d,  from  John  vi.  29,  and  Eph.  iv.  30,  may  be 
specified. 

46 


THE  MINORITY.  47 

doubts;  their  final  action  had  been  unanimous,  and 
accompanied  by  a  special  testimony  to  "  the  orthodoxy, 
piety,  and  prudence"  of  the  young  candidate  for  ordi- 
nation. 

Nevertheless,  agitation  was  kept  up  for  several 
months;  and  at  length  the  minority  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  an  older  minister,  the  I>ev.  John  Boddily  (of 
Lady  Huntingdon's  school),  who  in  July  commenced 
preaching  in  the  house  of  one  of  the  elders.  They 
next  proposed,  that,  as  a  peace-measure,  he  should 
be  settled  as  colleague  with  the  pastor.  This  proposal 
was  not  acceded  to.  In  October,  the  presbytery  finally 
decided  to  give  them  a  separate  church  organization. 
They,  however,  dropped  connection  with  the  presby- 
tery, which  was  only  resumed,  after  many  years,  by 
their  successors. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  course  pursued  by  these 
dissentients,  if  it  had  not  the  sanction  of  presbytery, 
had  at  least  that  of  immemorial  usage.  They  were  a 
very  respectable  minority ;  their  wishes  had  been 
thwarted;  quiescence  in  such  a  case  would  have  been 
contrary  to  all  local  precedent.  Whether  from  the 
extreme  asperity  of  the  east  winds  on  that  exposed 
coast,  impregnating  the  atmosphere  with  the  seeds  of 
rankling  irritation,  and  making  the  udolcefar  merite" 
of  Italy  a  thing  impossible,  or  from  the  deeper  interest 
felt  there  than  elsewhere  in  ecclesiastical  afthirs,  —  what- 
ever the  cause,  physical  or  moral,  certain  it  is,  that,  from 
the  earliest  times,  there  had  been  among  the  churches 
in  that  region  an  unusual  amount  of  what  the  poet  calls 
"harmony  not  understood."  Coffin's  "History  of 
Newbury,"  one  of  the  most  honest  histories  overwrit- 
ten, reveals  an  odd  state   of  things  between  the  first 


48  WITHDRAWAL    OF 

settlers  and  that  ripe  scholar  and  exemplary  man, 
Thomas  Parker,  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Newbury. 
For  some  twenty-five  years,  one-half  of  his  congrega- 
tion faithfully  attended  on  his  edifying  preaching  on 
Sunday,  and  then  quarrelled  with  him  all  the  week 
about  church  government ;  his  Congregationalism  being 
not  as  Congregational  as  theirs.  At  one  time,  claiming 
to  be  a  majority,  they  even  assumed  to  "  suspend  "  him 
from  his  pastoral  office,  kindly  adding,  however,  "  In 
the  mean  time,  as  a  gifted  brother,  you  may  preach  for 
the  edification  of  the  church  if  you  please  "  (!) 

In  the  case  to  which  our  narrative  refers,  a  separate 
church  organization  was  plainly  the  true  solution  of  the 
difficulty.  It  gave  the  dissentients  liberty  to  follow 
their  preferences,  whilst  it  left  to  the  pastor  a  congre- 
gation amply  large  and  thoroughly  united  and  homo- 
geneous. 

It  may  well  be  supposed,  however,  that  the  agitation, 
of  many  months'  continuance,  which  preceded  this 
result,  put  to  a  severe  test  the  equanimity  (not  to  say 
magnanimity)  of  one  whom  nature  had  endowed  with 
sensibilities  both  generous  and  acute. 

Rev.  Mr.  Carey  of  Newburyport  wrote  to  a  friend, 
that  he  "  looked  on  with  admiration  at  the  blended  for- 
bearance and  spirit  of  his  course  toward  the  malcon- 
tents." The  following  extracts  are  from  his  father's 
letters  during  this  time  of  trial. 

"  Ipswich,  July  30,  1795. 

"I  am  very  well  satisfied  with  what  has  been  done; 
and  doubt  not  that  He  who  hitherto  has  conducted 
your  friends  and  you  in  a  way  so  unexceptionable  will 
be  with  you  and  them  in  what  remains.     For  the  rest— 
wait  on  the  Lord,  and  keep  his  way,  and  be  under  no 


THE  MINORITY.  49 

discouragement  from  any  appearances.  I  have  thought, 
and  still  think,  that  a  minister  of  right  character,  con- 
ducting with  prudence  and  resolution,  would  be  very 
likely,  in  the  course  of  things,  to  have  a  congregation 
to  his  wishes,  in  such  a  place  as  you  are  in ;  and,  to  me, 
all  things  seem  tending  to  that  point.  You  have  the 
consciousness  of  not  driving  off  anybody  by  bad  doc- 
trine or  offensive  conduct.  If  still  they  are  irreconcila- 
ble, be  thankful  if  they  will  be  good  enough  to  with- 
draw, and  try  to  comfort  themselves  with  some  other 
preacher. 

"  And  God  Almighty  grant  you  more  and  more  of 
every  virtue;  and  bring  you  nearer  to  himself  than 
ever,  advance  you  to  higher  usefulness  than  ever,  by 
all  these  trials  of  faith  and  patience." 

In  another  letter,  he  says,  "It  is  pleasing  to  see  how 
the  zeal  of  your  friends  is  kindled  upon  the  present 
occasion."  —  "Oct.  24.  We  hear  nothing  lately  but 
that  all  is  quiet  and  happy  with  you."  —  "Nov.  4. 
The  general  current  of  accounts  respecting  the  state 
of  your  society,  and  your  prospect  of  greater  comfort 
and  increasing  usefulness,  is  favorable  and  animat- 
ing." 

"Jan.  20,  1796.  Refer  all  to  that  superior  wisdom 
which  best  knows  how  to  govern  the  church  and  the 
world.  It  is  but  a  little  way,  at  best,  that  we  can  see 
before  us.  There  is  nothing  but  what  the  over-ruling 
Power  can  turn  to  good;  and  these  considerations 
should  teach  us,  perhnps,  to  be  less  strenuous  against 
any  thing  except  plain  moral  evil."  — "March  28, 1796. 
I  am  comforted  to  find  what  a  united  and  cordial  so- 
ciety you  now  find  yourself  connected  with.  You 
have  nothing  to  do  but  to  go  on  preaching  and  living 


50  PASTORAL  DUTIES. 

that  divine  gospel  which  you  have  embraced.  God 
will  take  care  of  the  rest." 

But  the  most  remarkable  passage  occurs  in  a  letter 
of  May  29,  1795 :  "  Those  restless  spirits  are  doing 
you  more  good  than  perhaps  they  design,  and  much 
more,  perhaps,  to  Zion." 

These  words  came  true  in  a  sense  which  the  writer 
could  not  have  divined.  Thirty  years  afterward,  when 
Mr.  Dana's  "doctrine"  and  "life"  had  become  "fully 
known"  to  a  whole  generation  of  his  townsmen,  this 
same  church  that  had  seceded  from  him,  re-called  him 
to  Newburyport  by  a  most  cordial  invitation  to  become 
their  pastor ;  and  that  relation  he  sustained  to  them  till 
his  final  resignation  of  the  pastoral  office  in  1845. 
They  who  separated  from  him  in  his  youth  were  un- 
consciously building  a  church  for  him  in  his  later 
years. 

From  a  statement  of  the  whole  matter  placed  on  the 
records  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  following 
extract  will  suffice  :  — 

"  From  all  these  things,  we  realize  an  additional  bond 
upon  us  to  strengthen  the  hands  and  the  heart  of  our 
beloved  pastor,  whose  eminent  abilities  and  excellent 
spirit,  approved  through  so  many  and  great  trials,  at  so 
early  a  period  of  his  life,  carry  a  new  and  additional 
commendation  of  him  to  our  esteem  and  affection."  * 

The  pledge  here  giveu  was  fully  redeemed.  From 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  pastoral  connection  with, 
this  church,  their  warmth  of  attachment  was  unfailing. 

He  was . early  called  to    unusual  conversance  with 

*  The  statements,  thus  far,  of  this  chapter  are  based  wholly  on 
documents.  The  writer  remembers  no  allusion  of  his  father  to  the 
subject. 


YELLOW  FEVER.  51 

those  scenes  that  touch  the  deepest  sensibilities  of  a 
pastor.  There  was  much  sickness  in  town  in  the  year 
1795.  He  officiated  at  fifty  funerals,  —  nearly  one 
every  week.  From  this  it  may  be  judged  how  much 
of  his  time  was  given  to  the  sick  and  dying. 

The  next  year,  ISTewburyport  was  visited  by  a  scourge 
almost  unknown  in  that  latitude  —  the  yellow  fever. 
It  was  generally  fatal.  Dr.  John  Barnard  Swett,  his 
physician  and  friend,  being  asked  by  some  one,  "  What 
is  it?"  replied,  "It  is  death;  I  can  give  it  no  other 
name."  Visiting  freely  among  its  victims,  Mr.  Dana 
was  much  exposed,  and  his  life  was  near  becoming  a 
sacrifice  to  his  sense  of  duty.  One  morning,  Dr.  Swett 
and  himself  met  at  the  bedside  of  one  in  the  last  stage 
of  the  disease.  Having  an  appointment  to  fulfil  at 
Gloucester,  he  set  out,  perhaps  the  next  day,  feeling 
slightly  unwell  at  the  time.  On  the  road,  he  became  so 
ill  as  barely  to  be  able  to  reach  his  father's  house  at 
Ipswich.  The  fever  was  upon  him,  and  he  was  brought 
very  low.  On  his  recovery,  he  heard  with  much  grief 
the  news  which  had  been  kept  from  him,  —  the  death 
of  his  beloved  physician. 

In  a  few  weeks  the  pestilence  disappeared.  Dr. 
Buckminster  of  Portsmouth  wrote  him,  Oct.  14,  1796, 
"I  rejoice  that  God  has  preserved  you  through  the 
sickness  with  which  you  have  been  visited,  and  that  he 
has  so  far  removed  the  scourge  with  which  he  has  been 
visiting  Newbury,  as  that  the  inhabitants  are  returning 
to  their  deserted  dwellings." 

He  afterward  referred  to  this  illness  as  having  sug- 
gested to  him  a  valuable  lesson  as  to  the  manner  of 
approaching  the  sick  and  dying.  An  aunt  with  whom 
he  was  a  favorite  (the  wife  of  Dr.  Joshua  Fisher  of 


52  PASTORAL  DUTIES. 

Beverly),  coming  into  the  room  when  he  was  much 
prostrated,  could  not  suppress  her  emotion.  He  re- 
membered the  excitement  and  exhaustion  which  this 
caused  to  himself,  and  learned  hence  the  need  of  con- 
sideration of  the  physical  state  of  those  in  similar  cir- 
cumstances to  whom  he  came  as  a  spiritual  guide  and 
comforter. 

His  visits  to  the  sick  were  always  singularly  prized. 
Once,  when  called  up  at  night  for  this  purpose,  he 
asked  the  messenger,  "Is  not  Mr.  M.  her  minister?" 
The  answer  was,  "Mr.  M.  is  her  minister  when  she  is 
well,  but  you  are  her  minister  when  she  is  sick."  How 
often  was  his  presence  like  the  entrance  of  a  ray  of 
heavenly  sunshine  to  the  darkened  room  of  the  afflicted 
and  sorrowing!  The  tenderness  of  his  sympathy,  the 
aptness  of  his  quotations  from  the  Bible  and  from  his 
favorite,  Watts,  and  those  prayers  which  seemed  to 
bring  heaven  so  near,  made  him  pre-eminently  a  minis- 
ter of  consolation  to  the  sick  and  dying.  "  When  the 
ear  heard  him,  then  it  blessed  him ;  and  when  the  eye 
saw  him,  it  gave  witness  to  him.  The  blessing  of  him 
that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  him."  Many,  it 
may  be  presumed,  in  the  course  of  his  long  pastoral  ex- 
perience, saw  in  him  the  realization  of  that  beautiful 
ideal,  — 

"  Beside  the  bed  where  parting  life  was  laid, 
And  sorrow,  guilt,  and  pain,  by  turns  dismayed, 
The  reverend  champion  stood :  at  his  control 
Despair  and  anguish  fled  the  struggling  soul: 
Comfort  came  down  the  trembling  wretch  to  raise, 
And  his  last  faltering  accents  whispered  praise." 

He  often  spoke  with  pleasure  of  the  answer  once 
given  by  an  aged  man,  dying,  to  his  question,  how 


INJURY  TO   HIS  EYES.  53 

death  appeared  :  "  Death  —  it  seems  like  a  dark  valley  ; 
but  I  think  I  can  see  light  beyond !" 

His  pastoral  duties  occupied  so  much  time  in  the  day, 
that  he  was  obliged  to  extend  his  hours  of  study  far 
into  the  night.  Before  he  was  aware  of  danger,  he  had 
inflicted  a  lasting  injury  on  his  eyes.  In  addition  to 
the  suffering  and  annoyance  to  which  he  was  subjected 
at  the  time,  he  was  compelled  to  use  green  spectacles 
as  a  protection  almost  to  the  close  of  his  life.  This 
greatly  impaired  the  effect  of  his  performances  in  the 
pulpit,  as  far  as  the  expression  of  the  eye  was  con- 
cerned. It  was  only  near  at  hand  that  one  could  fully 
enjoy  its  pleasant  light,  enkindled  by  genial  converse  or 
inspiring  recollection.  The  evil  was  partly  compen- 
sated by  the  greater  freedom  and  animation  of  sermons, 
which,  thoroughly  prepared  as  to  their  topics,  were  other- 
wise extemporaneous.  The  solemn  stillness  and  pro- 
found attention  of  his  numerous  auditory,  re-acting  up- 
on himself,  gave  him  stimulus  and  support.  Where 
his  eye  most  naturally  rested,  not  far  from  the  centre 
of  the  church,  there  sat  one  (to  whom  he  afterwards 
sustained  a  near  relation)  whose  eyes,  never  wandering 
from  the  speaker,  and  often  suffused  with  tears, told  how 
deeply  the  heart  was  moved.  He  felt  that  he  could 
scarcely  preach  if  Mr.  Coombs  were  absent. 

How  serious  was  the  obstruction,  during  these  first 
years  of  his  ministry,  to  written  preparation  for  the 
the  pulpit,  appears  from  an  advertisement  to  two  dis- 
courses, delivered  April  25,  1799,  the  day  of  national 
fast  recommended  by  President  Washington  :  — 

"  To  those  who  heard  these  discourses,  and  who 
have  requested  their  publication,  the  author  would 
suggest,  that,  as  he  was  necessitated  by  the  feeble  state 


54  A  PEACEMAKER. 

of  bis  eyes  to  deliver  them  from  very  imperfect  notes,  it 
has  been  impossible  to  recollect,  in  every  instance,  the 
precise  expressions  originally  used." 

This  he  also  speaks  of  as  "  having  much  retarded  his 
progress  "in  respect  to  publication.  Notwithstanding 
this,  two  other  sermons  of  his  had  been  printed  by  re- 
quest the  previous  month. 

In  1798,  his  father  writes,  "1  am  glad  that  you  begin 
to  harmonize  the  neighboring  societies.  Continue  in 
your  good  wishes  and  endeavors  for  still  more  of  the 
same  kind  ;  though  time  perhaps  may  be  required." 

Time  xoas  required  where  discord  was  so  inveterate. 
Dr.  Alexander,  visiting  Newburyport  three  years  after 
this,  found  six  churches  in  which  he  could  preach,  be- 
tween whose  pastors  there  was  little  or  no  exchange 
of  pulpits.*  But  Mr.  Dana's  efforts  to  counteract  what 
he  publicly  rebuked  as  a  ''narrow,  contentious,  censo- 
rious spirit "  were  in  the  end  successful.  Already  (1798) 
he  had  obtained  an  act  of  amnesty  from  his  church  to 
the  Congregational  church  formed  by  secession  from 
it  before  his  ministry  commenced.  He  was  on  friendly 
terms  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Boddily,  the  pastor  chosen  by 
those  who  had  withdrawn  from  himself.  When  Mr. 
Boddily's  death  occured,  in  1802,  he  was  called  on  by 
them  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon.  He  labored  also 
to  smooth  the  way  to  an  exchange  of  pulpits  with  Dr. 
Spring,  who,  having  been  often  at  his  father's  house, 
had  known  him  from  his  childhood.  But  some  could 
not  easily  forget  that  Dr.  Spring  had  responded  to  Mr. 
Murray's  proffered  hand  by  putting  his  behind  his  back. 
Mr.  Murray,  among  his  friends,  made  reprisals  on  Dr. 

*-'Life  of  A.  Alexander,  D.D.,"  page  256. 


MARRIAGE.  55 

Spring  by  a  sly  hit  at  his  Hopkinsian  heresy,  quoting 
with  great  gusto  from  Watts,  — 

"  What  mortal  power  from  things  unclean 
Can  pure  productions  bring  V 
Who  can  command  a  vital  stream 
From  an  infected  Spring?  " 

Thus,  with  one  blow,  did  he  both  vindicate  ortho- 
doxy and  avenge  himself;  a  playful  revenge,  however, 
if  we  may  trust  the  tradition  that  he  was  of  a  forgiv- 
ing temper. 

Between  Mr.  Dana's  church  and  that  from  which  it 
had  separated  in  1746,  no  complete  amity  subsisted  till 
(in  the  same  spirit  which  had  dictated  his  own  appeal 
for  Christian  union  before  settlement)  Rev.  Leonard 
Withington,  in  1816,  made  it  a  condition  of  his  accep- 
tance of  the  call  to  the  First  Church  in  Newbury  that 
past  differences  should  be  forgotten. 

Before  the  termination  of  Mr.  Dana's  first  pastoral 
connection,  pacific  relations  had  been  established  be- 
tween all  the  churches.  Their  dissensions  had  become 
merely  historical. 

The  record  of  an  event,  most  important  to  the  hap- 
piness of  his  life,  belongs  to  this  period.  On  the  30th 
of  December,  A.D.  1800,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Coombs,  Esq.,  of  New- 
buryport. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


1801-1806. 


Religious  Excitement  in  Newburyport. — Re  v.  Mr. 
Milton.  —  Adelphi  Society.  —  Publications.  — 
Letters  from  Dr.  Morse. 

Early  in  1801,  great  religious  excitement  prevailed 
for  a  time  in  Newburyport.  Mr.  Dana  seems  at  first 
to  have  been  hopeful  that  much  good  would  result ; 
but  such  extravagances  and  disorders,  more  novel  then 
than  since,  were  soon  mingled  with  it,  as  caused  him  soli- 
citude. After  preaching,  young  men  would  rise  in  the 
galleries  and  exhort;  great  confusion  followed.  He 
was  present,  on  one  occasion,  at  a  united  meeting  at 
Mr.  Milton's  church,  the  headquarters  of  the  excite- 
ment, when  the  agitation  was  extreme ;  and  groans 
and  shouts  began  to  be  heard  throughout  the  spacious 
and  crowded  edifice.  He  rose,  and  with  deep  and  calm 
solemnity  said,  "  The  Lord  is  a  God  of  order,  not  of  con- 
fusion." The  effect  was  instantaneous;  the  vast  audi- 
tory was  hushed  into  solemn  stillness.  There  must 
have  been  something  strangely  impressive  in  the  scene, 
to  have  been  described,  as  it  was  forty  years  afterward, 
by  one  who  said,  that,  as  he  rose  in  that  excited,  tumul- 
tuous assemblage,  "  he  looked  more  like  an  angel  than 
a  man." 

The  following  from  a  letter  of  his  father,  dated  Feb. 
14,  1801,  expresses,  doubtless,  his  own  sentiments  at 

56 


RELIGIOUS  EXCITEMENT.  57 

the  time.  It  is  also  instructive,  as  showing  how  often 
the  same  scenes  are  reproduced,  and  how  much  the 
same  counsels  are  needed,  in  religious  excitements, 
from  one  age  to  another. 

"Reviewing  your  letter,  and  the  scenes  I  witnessed 
lately,  with  some  other  things  I  have  heard  since,  makes 
me  yet  more  decided  that  a  stand  must  soon  be  made, 
in  a  Christian  way,  against  the  eccentricities  which  pre- 
vail. I  will  not  say  in  the  most  positive  manner  what 
ought  to  be  the  first  step :  whether  some  ministers 
should  first  be  earnestly  entreated  in  a  private  way, 
and  convinced,  if  possible,  that  the  lead  they  have 
given,  if  persisted  in,  will  ultimately  bring  the  utmost 
disgrace  on  the  work  of  God,  and  mislead  (perhaps  to 
their  ruin)  many  more  than  it  benefits ;  or  whether  the 
first  step  should  be  a  solemn  consultation  of  the  several 
ministers,  with  a  delegation  from  their  respective 
churches  of  some  of  the  most  discreet  and  unexception- 
ably  Christian  men,  and  friends  to  heart-religion  and 
the  work  of  God. 

"  I  am  struck  with  the  ruinous  tendency  of  bringing 
forward  persons  to  perform  public  parts  who  (besides 
many  improprieties  which  ought  to  have  a  candid  al- 
lowance made  for  them)  mislead  in  essential  points 
those  who  look  up  to  them,  and  diffuse  a  bad  spirit. 
I  was  struck  with  the  indiscriminate  manner  in  which 
all  who  cry  out  seemed  to  be  approbated  with  very  lit- 
tle of  inquiry  into  their  views  or  convictions,  and  with 
very  few  cautionary  hints  of  the  danger  of  resting 
without  a  foundation,  —  without  thorough  conviction, 
or  genuine  conversion,  faith,  and  repentance.  I  was 
struck  with  the  ungracious  manner  of  praying  over 
sermons,  and  about  ministers.     It  is  too  plain  that  some 


58  MR.   MILTON. 

who  give  the  tone  cherish  such  prejudices  against  min- 
isters at  large  as  are  very  unjust,  and  more  plainly  in 
persons  so  little  informed  as  they  are  ;  and  they  be- 
tray a  censoriousness  which  goes  to  pull  down  all  who 
do  not  think  wTell  of  all  these  eccentric  movements. 
They  pray  accordingly,  and  others  by  their  example 
are  led  into  it. 

"If  Mr.  Milton  did  pray  in  the  manner  I  hear  he 
did  on  Thursday  evening,  I  think  it  clear  that  he  should 
know  soon  that  others  cannot  go  with  him,  unless  he 
will  retract  and  desist." 

Of  the  "  Mr.  Milton  "  here  mentioned,  it  may  be  said, 
in  extenuation  of  any  early  mistakes,  that  without  some 
deviation  from  ordinary  rules  and  modes  of  action,  he 
could  not  have  been  consistent  with  himself.  He  was 
a  man  of  unrivalled  eccentricity.  By  this,  as  much  as 
by  his  mental  vivacity,  and  the  still  more  potent  charm 
of  a  wonderfully  strong,  and  at  the  same  time  musical 
voice,  he  had  gathered  a  large  congregation  in  New- 
buryport.  He  interpreted,  in  a  very  literal  sense,  the 
injunction,  "  Cry  aloud,  spare  not,  lift  up  thy  voice  like 
a  trumpet."  Clear,  sonorous,  trumpet-like,  were  the 
tones  that  rung  through  the  whole  neighborhood  dar- 
ing his  hours  of  public  service. 

Exchanging  pulpits  once  with  a  clergyman  at  some 
distance,  whose  strength  lay  rather  in  mind  and  heart 
than  lungs,  and  for  whom  a  church  had  been  built  with 
special  reference  to  the  easy  transmission  of  sound, 
Mr.  Milton's  first  utterance  nearly  brought  the  whole 
congregation  to  their  feet.  In  the  afternoon,  all  Mar- 
blehead  came  together  to  hear  this  son  of  thunder. 
Not  content  with  giving  notice,  before  sermon,  of  a 
third  service,  he  wound  up  the  benediction  in  stentorian 
tones,  with  "Amen;  remember  the  lecturT 


.1/7?.   MILTON.  59 

He  often  abruptly  closed  his  long  prayer  just  as  he 
appeared  to  be  in  the  middle  of  it.  As  an  instance  of 
summary  despatch,  many  will  recollect  the  frequent 
petition,  "Bless  Bible  societies,  missionary  institutions, 
tract  establishments,  and  sabbath  schools."  This  was 
varied  sometimes  with  "  Blessings  on  the  head  of 
Robert  Raikes,  the  founder  of  Sunday  schools!"  be- 
gun on  a  high  key,  and  descending  with  heavy  cadence 
to  the  close. 

He  carried  on  a  life-long  wordy  war  against  Anti- 
nomians, —  a  safe  one,  however,  as  there  was  no  re- 
spondent ;  at  least,  none  answered  to  the  name.  These 
invisible  antagonists  he  sometimes  floored  with  the  pe- 
tition, "  Save  us  from  the  sweet  pison  of  Antinomian- 
ism." 

As  Mr.  Milton  was  as  eccentric  in  person  as  in  char- 
acter,—  very  short  and  very  broad,  with  a  profusion 
of  black  hair  flowing  down  his  shoulders  —  the  contrast 
between  him  and  his  nearest  clerical  neighbor,  when 
seen  together,  was  sufficiently  striking.  But,  though 
opposites,  they  Avere  never  antagonists.  Their  orbits 
never  intersected.  And  doubtless  there  were  mingled 
with  Mr.  Milton's  peculiarities,  sterling  traits  of  char- 
acter, which,  equally  with  them,  accounted  for  the  long 
fidelity  to  him  of  his  large  congregation. 

In  these  years,  there  existed  in  Newburyport  what 
might  be  termed  a  "Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion," ;  except  that  mutual  improvement,  rather  than 
the  spiritual  direction  of  others,  was  the  main  object. 
Mr.  Dana  obtained  from  his  father  some  counsels  for 
their  guidance:  such  as  that  there  should  be  '•'•great 
simplicity,  —  as  little  of  parade  or  profession  as  may  be  ; 
that    each   shall  religiously  beware  of  every  appear- 


60  ELDER   MOODY. 

ance  of  ostentation  or  spiritual  pride  in  any  form,  in  a 
particular  manner  not  to  make  a  righteousness  of  their 
meetings  ; "  &c.  That  the  "  Aclelphi  Society  "  mingled 
good  works  with  their  faith,  a  proof  is  extant  to  this 
day,  in  the  shape  of  a  piece  of  plate  presented  to  the 
pastor's  wife,  on  occasion,  probably,  of  the  transfer  of 
their  meetings  from  the  parsonage,  where  they  had 
been  warmly  welcomed  in  the  winter  evenings,  to  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Richard  Pike,  one  of  their  most  valued 
members. 

In  contrast  with  the  pietism  which  sometimes  springs 
up  in  distorted  forms  in  the  fervid  atmosphere  of  an- 
imal excitement,  more  than  one  of  Mr.  Dana's  earlier 
publications  delineate,  in  the  light  of  example,  the  fair 
proportions  of  that  religion,  deep-rooted,  symmetrical, 
and  mature,  on  which  the  gentle  dew  of  heaven  sheds 
down  its  silent  nurture.  He  gives  this  beautiful  picture 
of  a  good  man,  in  a  sermon  occasioned  by  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  Moody,  an  elder  in  his  church  : — 

"  There  is  a  peculiar  pleasure,  as  well  as  propriety,  in 
paying  honor  at  death  to  those  excellent  men  who 
through  life  shrank  and  retired  from  their  own  praise. 
And  if  religion  is  the  highest  glory  of  our  nature,  and  if 
to  have  much  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  is  to  be  eminent  in 
religion,  I  must  confess  I  have  known  no  man,  person- 
ally, who  has  appeared  to  me  more  worthy  of  honor 
and  everlasting  remembrance,  than  he  whom  we  now 
lament. 

"  He  prized  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  Christianity. 
They  not  only  supported  him  in  death,  but  sweetened 
and  adorned  his  life ;  while  his  life  recommended  them, 
and  powerfully  demonstrated  how  superior  is  a  religion 
animated  by  the  pure  principles  of  the  gospel,  to  every 


ELDER  MOODY.  61 

thing  besides  that  bears  the  name.  The  very  spirit  of 
his  Master  breathed  in  his  temper,  and  shone  out  in  his 
life.  Where  shall  we  find  a  man  of  such  an  affection- 
ate, uniting,  healing  spirit;  so  ready  to  leap  over  those 
barriers  which  bigotry  erects  between  Christians ;  so 
free  from  that  narrow,  contentious,  censorious  spirit, 
which  (I  grieve  to  say  it)  has  done  such  infinite  mis- 
chief in  this  place  ;  so  ready  to  take  to  his  arms  and 
heart  the  friends  of  God  wherever  found,  and  with 
whatever  society  connected  ;  so  ready  to  throw  the  veil 
of  candor  and  compassion  over  their  infirmities  ;  so 
zealous  for  the  love  and  jjeace,  as  well  as  the  truth  and 
purity,  of  the  gospel ;  so  distant  from  the  affectation  of 
pressing  unhallowed  passion  into  the  service  of  religion  ; 
so  ready  to  bear  and  to  forbear,  to  become  any  thing, 
every  thing,  or  nothing,  so  that  Christ  may  be  honored 
and  his  cause  promoted  ? 

"  Never  have  I  heard  from  the  lips  of  man  prayers 
which  to  me  appeared  more  of  a  nature  to  solemnize 
and  elevate  the  mind,  to  enkindle  and  cherish  the  spirit 
of  devotion.  He  conversed  with  his  God  as  a  friend  ; 
yet  who  ever  perceived  in  the  prayers  of  this  good 
man,  any  thing  even  remotely  bordering  on  unbecoming 
familiarity  or  irreverence  ?  " 

One  of  his  earlier  efforts  as  a  pastor  had  been  for  the 
promotion  of  sacred  music,  which  he  found  in  a  lan- 
guishing state.  He  determined  to  devote  two  morning 
and  two  afternoon  hours,  each  week,  to  the  gratuitous 
instruction  in  music  of  such  young  ladies  and  gentle- 
men as  were  disposed  to  attend.  In  his  circular  of 
invitation  he  says,  "  It  being  his  duty,  and,  as  he  trusts, 
his  first  desire,  to  consecrate  his  time  and  services  to 
the   best   and   highest  interests  of  the  people  of  his 

6 


02  THE   PAN  OP  LIST. 

charge,  he  will  endeavor,  from  time  to  time,  to  call  the 
attention  of  his  young  friends  to  the  all-interesting 
subject  of  religion  ;  and  he  most  ardently  wishes  them 
to  consider  this  as  a  principal  object  of  the  plan  pro- 
posed." 

A  young  lady,  whose  residence  was  just  opposite  the 
parsonage,  obtained  the  consent  of  her  parents,  though 
their  religious  views  differed  widely  from  his,  to 
attend  his  singing-class.  There  she  received  her  first 
religious  impressions,  and  from  that  time  developed  a 
character  of  singular  loveliness.  She  died  young,  not 
long  after  her  marriage.  A  brief  memoir,  introducing 
a  selection  from  her  writings,  was  prepared  by  him. 

In  1805,  he  was  solicited  by  Rev.  Dr.  Morse  to  be- 
come one  of  the  editors  of  the  "  Panoplist."  He  pre- 
ferred to  be  merely  a  contributor. 

Dr.  Morse  writes  again  on  the  subject,  Dec.  12, 
1805:  — 

"Perhaps  you  have  something  prepared,  or  nearly 
so,  —  your  second  number  on  Experimental  Religion; 
if  so,  do  forward  it  for  the  next  number.  I  wish  much  for 
the  biographical  sketch  of  President  Davies.  We  shall 
have  one  of  Dr.  Finley  for  this  number ;  if  we  could 
have  that  of  President  Davies  for  the  next,  it  would  be 
very  acceptable.  If  you  can  spare  time,  do  drop  me  a 
line  by  post  soon,  and  let  me  know  what  to  expect 
from  yon.  The  'Panoplist '  continues  to  prosper,  and 
is  generally  well  spoken  of. 

"  Yesterday  the  corporation  elected  Fisher  Ames,  Esq., 
President  of  the  University  of  Cambridge.  So  there 
is  an  end  (and  on  the  whole  a  happy  one)  to  our 
anxiety  on  that  subject." 

Another  letter  from  Dr.  Morse,  four  months  later,  is 


THE  PAN  OP  LIST.  63 

specially  interesting  ns  conveying,  "  in  confidence,"  the 
first  hint  as  to  the  establishment  of  the  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary :  — 

"  Charlestown,  April  8,  1806. 

"My  dear  Friend,  —  Though  painfully  affected  with 
an  epidemic  cold,  I  am  constrained  to  write  you  on 
several  interesting  subjects.  I  have  deemed  them  of 
sufficient  importance  to  justify  a  visit  to  Newburyport, 
that  I  might  have  a  personal  interview  with  you;  but 
this  is  at  present  out  of  my  power.  It  is,  indeed,  a 
critical  and  anxious  period,  my  friend,  in  a  great  variety 
of  respects ;  and  we  have  our  parts  to  act  in  the  manage- 
ment of  affairs  of  no  small  moment. 

"First,  let  me  say  a  word  concerning  the  'Panoplist.' 
It  is,  in  my  opinion,  extremely  important  to  the  cause 
of  evangelical  truth,  that  this  work  be  ably  supported. 
It  now  stands  high  in  public  estimation ;  and  you  and 
your  good  father  have  contributed  your  share  in  raising 
its  character.  I  expect  there  may  be  a  shifting  of  sub- 
scribers at  the  end  of  this  year,  but,  I  hope,  no  diminu- 
tion. Previous  to  the  commencement  of  a  new  year,  I 
wish  to  know  whether  I  can  calculate  on  a  continuance 
of  your  aid,  and  that  of  Dr.  Dana.  Were  I  to  see  you 
together,  with  Dr.  Pearson,  I  think  we  could  state  to 
you  such  reasons  as  would  induce  you  both  to  say, '  We 
will  continue  and  increase  our  aid.' 

...  "I  wish  to  have  a  long  conversation  with  you 
on  the  affairs  of  college;  the  resignation  of  our  valuable 
and  learned  friend,  Dr.  Pearson  ;  and  the  establishment 
of  him  at  Andover  in  a  useful  and  respectable  station. 
A  plan  is  in  contemplation,  at  which  I  can  only  hint  in 
confidence,  of  establishing  a  Theological  Academy  at 
Andover,  and  placing  Dr.  Pearson  at  the  head  of  it. 


64  THE  PANOPLIST. 

Think  on  the  subject,  and  prepare  to  take  an  active 
part  in  it. 

"  Our  ecclesiastical  affairs  are  in  an  awful  state,  and 
growing  worse  and  worse.  Is  there  no  way  in  which 
the  things  that  remain  can  be  preserved  and  strength- 
ened ?  Turn  your  thoughts  to  this  subject,  and  request 
your  worthy  father  to  do  the  same,  and  to  put  his 
thoughts  on  paper,  if  he  thinks  proper,  for  the  '  Pano- 
plist,'  or  to  be  published  in  pamphlet. 

"Your  friend  and  brother, 

"J.  Morse." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

1807-1812. 

Origination  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Andover.  —  Presbyterian  General  Assembly, 
1810  and  1812. — Visit  to  Washington  and 
Mount  Vernon.  —  A  House  op  Mourning. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Theological  Institution  at 
Andover,  Sept.  28,  1808,  a  brief  account  of  its  origin 
was  given  by  Dr.  Pearson.  The  following  is  an  ex- 
tract :  — 

"  To  arrive  at  its  origin,  it  must  be  traced  back  to 
the  pious  institution,  more  than  thirty  years  since 
founded  in  this  place  by  the  united  liberality  of  two 
brothers,  the  Hon.  Samuel  and  the  Hon.  John  Phillips, 
sons  of  the  first  minister  of  this  parish.  In  the  consti- 
tution of  their  academy,  they  expressly  declare  'that 
the  first  and  principal  object  of  their  institution  is  the 
promotion  of  true  piety  and  virtue.'  They  have  also 
accordingly  made  it  the  duty  of  the  principal  instructor, 
'  as  the  age  and  capacities  of  the  scholars  will  admit, 
not  only  to  instruct  and  establish  them  in  the  truth  of 
Christianity,  but  also  to  inculcate  upon  them  the  great 
and  important  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  religion.'1 
In  promotion  of  the  same  sublime  object,  the  Hon.  John 
Phillips  farther  gave,  in  the  year  1789,  the  generous 
sum  of  $20,000,  'for  the  virtuous  and  pious  education 

6*  65 


66  ORIGIN  OF  THE 

of  youth  of  genius  and  serious  disposition,'  in  this  acad- 
emy. To  complete  his  liberality,  in  his  last  will,  he 
bequeathed  to  the  academy  in  Exeter,  of  which  he  was 
sole  founder,  two-thirds,  and  to  the  academy  in  this 
town  one-third,  of  the  residue  of  all  his  estate,  '  for  the 
benefit,'  as  his  expression  is,  'more  especially  of  charity 
scholars,  such  as  may  be  of  excelling  genius,  and  of 
good  moral  character,  preferring  the  hopefully  pious  ; 
and  such  of  these,  who  are  designed  to  be  employed  in 
the  great  and  good  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  having 
acquired  the  most  useful  human  literature  in  either  of 
these  academies,  or  other  seminaries,  may  be  assisted  in 
the  study  of  divinity  (if  a  theological  professor  is  not 
employed  in  either  of  the  two  fore-mentioned  academies) 
under  the  direction  of  some  eminent  Calvinistic  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  until  such  time  as  an  able,  pious,  and 
orthodox  instructor  shall,  at  least  in  part,  be  supported 
in  one  or  both  these  academies  as  a  professor  of  divin- 
ity ;  by  whom  they  may  be  taught  the  important  prin- 
ciples and  distinguishing  tenets  of  our  holy  Christian 
religion.'  To  this  fund  the  Hon.  William  Phillips,  late 
of  Boston,  also  bequeathed  $4,000  for  the  same  pious 
design. 

"  In  the  special  appropriation  of  this  fund,  every  one 
must  remark  the  expansion  of  the  great  object  of  the 
founders  of  the  academy,  and  its  intimate  connection 
with  the  theological  institution  now  established ;  and, 
agreeably  to  the  principal  design  of  the  founders,  and 
to  the  express  object  of  this  fund,  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  theological  students,  now  settled  in  the  ministry, 
have  been  supported  on  this  foundation  wdiile  prose- 
cuting their  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  clergy- 
man of  this  place. 


ANDOVER  SEMINARY.  67 

"  On  a  well-grounded  expectation  of  liberal  additions 
to  their  theological  fund,  the  trustees,  in  June,  1807,  ap- 
plied to  the  General  Court  to  enlarge  their  power  of 
holding  estate. 

"  Such,  as  we  have  now  represented,  is  the  connec- 
tion between  Phillips  Academy  and  the  Theological 
Institution  whose  birth  we  this  day  celebrate ;  and 
justice,  as  well  as  gratitude,  requires  us  to  recognize 
the  former  as  the  radix  of  the  latter,  and  as  the  embryo 
of  its  future  manhood. 

"  But,  while  we  trace  back  the  new  institution  to  the 
pious  benevolence  of  men  now  in  heaven,  we  cannot 
fail  to  acknowledge  the  immeasurable  goodness  of  God 
in  raising  up  others  to  enlarge  and  perfect  what  they 
had  begun." 

The  Hon.  John  Phillips,  here  recognized  as  having 
laid  the  foundation  on  which  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary  was  built,  is  the  same  in  whose  family  Mr. 
Dana  had  spent  his  two  years  at  Exeter. 

The  desired  amendment  of  the  charter  of  Phillips 
Academy  having  been  obtained,  the  trustees  were  put 
in  possession  of  an  "  instrument  making  provision  for 
the  establishment  of  a  theological  institution  in  Phillips 
Academy,  and  containing  the  constitution  of  the  same." 
By  this,  the  widow  and  the  son  of  Hon.  Samuel  Phil- 
lips bound  themselves  "to  erect  two  separate  build- 
ings for  a  theological  institution  ;  "  and  Samuel  Abbot, 
of  Andover,  gave  twenty  thousand  dollars  "  as  a  fund 
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  a  professor  of  Christian 
theology,  and  for  the  support  aud  encouragement  of 
students  in  divinity."  By  these  donations,  the  Ando- 
ver Theological  Seminary  was  founded,  —  in  happy  har- 
mony with  the  wishes  and  intentions  of  the  deceased 


G8  ORIGIN  OF   THE 

founders  of  Phillips  Academy ;  who,  however,  could 
have  little  imagined  how  tall  a  superstructure  would 
be  reared  on  the  foundations  which  their  hands  had 
laid. 

But  a  great  exigency  had  arisen.  Harvard  Univer- 
sity was  at  this  time  under  influences,  which,  a  few 
years  later,  took  the  distinctive  form  and  name  of  Uni- 
tarianism.  It  was  needful  that  new  efforts  should  be 
made  for  the  maintenance  of  the  old  faith. 

There  was,  however,  at  this  time  among  the  Trinita- 
rians, a  marked  division  of  theological  sentiment.  In 
the  first  years  of  the  present  century,  Hopldnsianism 
had  something  of  the  fascinating  attraction  in  New 
England  which  many  an  ism  has  had  there  since.  At 
the  very  time  that  preparations  were  in  j)rogress  for  the 
establishment  of  a  theological  institution  on  the  Phil- 
lips foundation,  at  Andover,  the  plan  of  a  theological 
school  was  prominent  in  the  counsels  of  some  divines 
of  Hopkinsian  proclivities.  The  question  of  a  "  coali- 
tion "  was  soon  agitated. 

Mr.  Dana  had  been,  three  years  previous  (August, 
1804),  unanimously  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy,  in  Andover.  In  reply 
to  their  Secretary,  Rev.  Jonathan  French,  he  says,  — 
"I  have  reason  to  doubt  my  sufficiency  to  discharge,  as 
I  would  wish,  the  important  duties  connected  with  its  ac- 
ceptance. But  I  would  feel,  too,  that  there  is  a  high  priv- 
ilege and  reward  attending  the  taking  of  even  a  small 
part  in  effectuating  the  pious  and  benevolent  designs 
which  gave  birth  to  the  Institution."  How  unconscious 
was  he,  at  the  time,  of  the  responsibility,  so  long  con- 
tinued and  so  weighty,  which  this  acceptance  involved ! 

The  letters  which  follow  are  of  historic  interest. 
The  words  in  italics  are  underscored  in  the  original. 


ANDOVER  SEMINARY.  69 

"  Ipswich,  Sept.  28,  1807. 

"Dear  Sox,  —  I  hoped  to  have  seen  you  to-day,  at 
your  own  house,  but  was  called  to  attend  the  funeral 
of  old  Mr.  Tappan  ;  and  now  I  know  not  whether  I 
can  see  you  before  you  go  to  Andover.  I  therefore  en- 
close some  minutes,  made  in  haste,  which  I  hoped  to 
improve  upon,  and  send  you  in  better  form. 

"I  am  still  in  the  same  mind  of  having  no  coalition 
that  shall  forbid  the  trustees  to  choose  all  the  instruc- 
tors, and  maintain,  without  interruption  or  mixture, 
the  good  old  style  of  divinity.  I  wish,  likewise,  that 
the  plan  of  teaching  may  be  still  open  to  improve- 
ment. Very  much  indeed  depends  on  setting  out  right 
in  that  respect ;  and  the  case  is  important  enough  to 
authorize  a  solemn  appointment  of  a  number  of  di- 
vines, whether  of  the  trust  or  not,  to  consider  this  sub- 
ject by  itself.  I  wish  there  might  be  time,  however, 
for  you  to  prepare  and  present  a  plan. 

"I  have  had  a  little  conversation  with  Judge  Tread- 
well,  who  will  hand  you  this ;  and  I  find  him  as  unwill- 
ing for  such  a  mixture  as  we  are.  Do  invite  him  to 
come  and  see  you  this  evening.  He  may  be  able  to 
give  you  some  account  of  Mr.  Norris's  wishes,  and 
possibly  to  converse  with  him  to  some  effect.  He  will 
converse  with  you,  however,  on  the  subject  at  large, 
and  possibly  write  to  Dr.  Pearson  (with  whom  you 
know  he  is  much  connected)  or  to  Dr.  Morse. 

"  Accept  my  love ;  convey  much  to  dear  Elizabeth 
and  the  children. 

"I  am  your  ever  affectionate  father, 

"J.  Dana." 


70  ORIGIN   OF  THE 

MR.    DANA    TO    ME.    ABBOT    OF    EXETER. 

"  Newburypoet,  Oct.  3,  1807. 

"  My  dear  Friend,  —  Knowing  that  your  curiosity 
must  be  awake  respecting  Andover  affairs,  and  recol- 
lecting the  request  you  made  when  we  parted,  I  sit 
down  to  acquaint  you  with  a  few  particulars. 

"  The  coalition  scheme  has  not  matured  so  fast  as, 
judging  from  report,  we  were  ready  to  believe.  Nor 
am  I  certain  that  the  worthy  doctors  feel  altogether  so 
sanguine  as  formerly  in  the  expectation  of  accomplish- 
ing it.  Nothing  was  brought  before  the  Board  on  the 
subject ;  and,  from  some  things  which  follow,  you  will 
draw  your  own  conclusions  whether  the  probability 
of  the  measure's  being  effected  is  increased  or  dimin- 
ished. 

"  Miv  Abbot  has  chosen  Mr.  Woods  as  his  professor. 
In  taking  this  step,  he  has  been  governed,  as  he  de- 
clares, not  by  any  personal  knowledge,  but  by  informa- 
tion and  advice  communicated  by  Dr.  Pearson,  Dr. 
Morse,  &c.  It  seems,  likewise,  that  Col.  Phillips  and 
Messrs.  Farrar  and  Newman  have  had  personal  inter- 
views with  Mr.  Woods,  who,  as  they  state,  has  given 
them  ample  and  unequivocal  assurances  that  he  is  no 
friend  to  the  peculiarities  of  Ilopliinsianism,  but  shall 
oppose  them.  Being  asked  by  one  of  them,  whether,  in 
case  of  coming  to  Andover,  he  should  think  it  necessary 
to  discourse  on  the  divine  agency  in  the  production  of 
sin,  he  replied,  Yes,  he  should,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
pointing  out  the  error  and  mischief  of  such  a  senti- 
ment. The  gentlemen  whom  I  have  mentioned  con- 
sider Mr.  Woods  as  pledged.  Mr.  French,  however, 
has  never  been  satisfied.  He  opposed  the  appoint- 
ment till  he  was  overborne. 


AND  OVER  SEMINARY.  71 

"  When  the  appointment  was  announced  to  the 
Trustees,  no  one  objected.  It  was  probably  the  gen- 
eral apprehension  that  no  one  had  a  right  to  object. 
Indeed,  respecting  several  of  the  Board,  I  have  no 
information  whether  they  were  pleased  with  the  ap- 
pointment or  the  contrary.  When  the  motions,  respect- 
ing salary,  &o.,  came  forward,  and  there  was  a  necessity 
on  my  part,  either  to  act,  or  be  singular  in  not  acting, 
I  expressed  myself  to  the  Trustees  to  this  effect :  I 
found  myself  in  a  situation  extremely  delicate  and  dis- 
tressing. I  acknowledged  the  perfect  right  of  Mr. 
Abbot  to  make  the  appointment,  and  that,  if  the  sub- 
sequent arrangements  were  so  entirely  matters  of  course 
as  to  imply  no  responsibility  lying  on  the  trustees, 
there  would  be  no  sufficient  reason  for  any  of  them  to 
decline  proceeding;  but  finding  that  our  constitution 
had  marked  out  the  system  of  doctrines  which  the  pro- 
fessors were  to  subscribe  to  and  teach,  I  was  doubtful 
whether  any  of  us  were  warranted  to  introduce  a  per- 
son to  either  of  the  professorships,  concerning  whose 
religious  sentiments  we  had  not  some  evidence  that 
they  accorded  with  the  proposed  system,  and  especi- 
ally if  we  apprehended,  and  not  without  evidence,  that, 
in  material  points,  they  were  dissonant.  This,  I  con- 
fessed, was  my  situation  in  the  present  case  ;  and  I 
must,  therefore,  be  excused  from  acting.  At  the  same 
time,  I  intimated  to  the  Board  that  I  was  cordially 
desirous  of  receiving  satisfaction  on  the  points  alluded 
to,  and  had,  accordingly,  submitted  to  the  President 
a  few  questions,  hastily  penned  that  morning,  and  em- 
bracing some  leading  points  of  distinction  between 
the  old  divinity  and  new,  to  which,  if  answers  should 
be  given  in  correspondence  with  the  principles  which 


JZ  ORIGIN  OF   THE 

we  all  profess  to  maintain,  I  should  be  greatly  relieved. 
These  questions  I  was  now  ready  to  put  into  the  hands 
of  any  friend  of  Mr.  "Woods,  that  they  might  be  com- 
municated to  him,  and  his  written  answers  received. 
Dr.  Morse  readily  closed  with  the  proposal,  and  en- 
gaged to  convey  the  questions  to  Mr.  Woods,  express- 
ing his  confidence  that  they  would  be  answered  satis- 
factorily. Several  other  gentlemen  afterwards  perused 
them,  and  expressed  their  wish  that  they  might  be 
answered.     They  are  these  :  — 

"  '  1.  Does  Mr.  Woods  disclaim  the  idea  of  a  positive 
divine  efficiency  in  the  production  of  sin  ? 

"'2.  Does  he  hold  that  sinners  are  to  be  exhorted  to 
use  the  means  of  grace  in  order  to  their  conversion  ? 

"  '3.  Does  he  believe,  that,  in  regeneration,  a  princi- 
ple of  grace  is  communicated  and  received  which  is 
never  afterward  lost  ? 

"'4.  Does  he  hold  the  truth  of  the answer  of 

the  Assembly's  Catechism  ;  viz.,  The  sinfulness  of  that 
state  into  which  man  fell  consists  in  the  guilt  of  Adam's 
first  sin,  &c. 

" '  5.  Does  he  believe  in  the  true  and  proper  imputa- 
tion of  the  righteousness  of  Christ  to  believers,  for  their 
justification? 

'"6.  Does  he  consider  it  a  constituent  part  of  Chris- 
tian submission,  that  we  be  willing  to  be  damned  for 
the  glory  of  God  ? 

" '  7.  Does  he  believe  that  all  the  exercises  of  the  un- 
regenerate,  so  far  as  they  have  a  moral  character,  are 
positively  sinful?  Is  their  honesty,  their  kindness,  and 
awakened  concern  for  their  souls,  positively  wicked  ? '  * 

*  Only  the  uninitiated  reader  will  need  to  be  informed  that  a 
negative  answer  to  the  last  two  questions,  and  an  affirmative  one  to  all 
the  others,  was  desired,  as  a  renunciation  of  Hopkinsianism. 


AND  OVER  SEMINARY.  73 

"  All  circumstances  considered,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
we  shall  be  answered  ;  in  which  case,  light  may  arise 
upon  our  perplexed  and  benighted  path.  Reviewing 
the  scene,  and  the  part  I  felt  myself  called  to  act,  you 
have,  I  doubt  not,  many  tender  and  anxious  thoughts 
about  me.  But  interesting  as  the  case  was,  and  cal- 
culated to  excite  emotions  not  the  most  pleasant,  I 
possessed  myself.  The  gentlemen  treated  my  sugges- 
tions with  candor.  Looking  back,  I  feel  a  satisfaction  in 
the  thought  of  having  done  just  so  much,  and  no  more. 
Still,  I  shall  be  anxious  to  know  your  opinion  and 
feelings.  If  you  can  approve,  let  me  know  it.  If 
otherwise,  be  perfectly  open.  Let  me  have  your  whole 
mind  and  heart  on  the  subject  at  large.  Advise  me 
respecting  future  conduct. 

"I  cannot  but  confess  to  you,  that,  since  going  to 
Andover,  I  feel  a  sort  of  relief.  That  the  prospects  of 
our  seminary  are  the  brightest,  I  cannot  suppose ;  but 
an  immense  burden  of  responsibility  is  transferred  from 
my  shoulders  to  those  of  others,  some  of  whom  appear 
nowise  oppressed  by  it.  If  you  shall  say  that  this  is 
rather  a  selfish  sort  of  consolation,  I  shall  not  contra- 
dict you.  My  solicitudes,  however,  will  not  cease ; 
but,  having  feebly  endeavored  to  do  my  duty  in  a  most 
interesting  case,  and  where  almost  every  personal  con- 
sideration would  have  tempted  me  to  do  nothing,  I 
desire  to  leave  all  events  with  him  who  can  clear  the 
darkest  skies. 

"  I  went  to  Hampton  yesterday,  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
Webster.  Mr.  Appleton  is  feeble  with  the  influenza, 
but,  I  hope,  convalescing.  Remember  we  have  claims 
on  you  and  on  Mrs.  Abbot.  "We  salute  you  both  very 
affectionately.  "Yours  as  ever, 

7  "D.  Dana." 


<4  ORIGIN  OF  THE 

MR.    ABBOT'S    REPLY. 

"  Oct.  12,  1807. 
"  Your  obliging  letter,  which  had  been  anxiously 
expected,  was  duly  received,  with  what  sensations  it  is 
difficult  to  say.  It,  however,  gives  me  pleasure  to 
learn  that  you  have,  with  satisfaction  to  yourself,  passed 
through  a  scene  which  must  have  been  peculiarly  del- 
icate and  trying ;  and,  so  far  as  I  am  possessed  of  the 
information  of  the  circumstances,  I  can  fully  accord 
with  you  in  feeling  and  sentiment,  that  you  '  did  just 
so  much,  and  no  more.'  If  your  constitution,  or  the 
instrument  which  conveys  Dr.  Phillips'  legacy,  is  to  be 
any  guide  in  this  appointment,  you  cannot,  I  conceive, 
invest  any  man  with  the  discretionary  and  uncon- 
troverted  power  of  designating  the  professors.  To 
have  sanctioned  this  unaccountable  appointment,  with- 
out satisfactory  evidence  on  the  score  of  sentiment, 
would  have  betrayed  the  trust  reposed  in  you  as  trus- 
tees ;  and  to  sit  still  with  the  impressions  which  you 
had,  while  the  trustees  seemed  precipitating  into  a 
violation  of  duty,  must  afford  to  you  hereafter  cause 
of  self-reproach.  Had  you  made  a  more  decisive  stand, 
delicately  as  you  were  situated,  it  might  possibly  have 
subjected  you  to  suspicions  of  acting  from  improper 
motives,  and  lessened  your  influence.  On  the  whole,  I 
am  persuaded  the  ground  you  took,  and  the  time  and 
manner  of  taking  it,  were  fortunate.  I  am  somewhat 
surprised,  that  nothing  was  said  of  the  coalition  ;  but 
do  not  feel  relieved  by  the  circumstance  ;  —  timeo  Da-  ' 
naos  donaferentes.  Can  the  project  of  union  be  given 
up  ?  Is  there  not  reason  to  apprehend  that  it  is  sus- 
pended only  to  be  brought  forward  in  another  shape, 
and  under  circumstances  more  favorable  to  success?" 


ANDOVER  SEMINARY.  75 

DB.    MORSE    TO    MR.    DANA. 

"  Chap.lestown,  Oct.  17,  1807. 

"  My  dear  Friend,  —  I  have  been  so  oppressed 
with  engagements  and  company  since  my  return  from 
Andover,  that  I  have  not  had  a  moment  to  write  you. 
On  Monday,  I  go  to  New  Haven  to  place  my  two  eldest 
sons  in  college.  I  snatch  a  moment,  in  my  hurry  of 
cares,  just  to  say  to  you,  that  I  exceedingly  regret  that 
any  difference  of  opinion  should  exist  among  Orthodox 
men  in  regard  to  the  contemplated  union  in  the  Theolo- 
gical Seminary  at  Andover.  In  existing  circumstances, 
all  inferior  considerations  should  yield  to  the  general 
good.  The  subject  is  of  infinite  moment.  I  cannot 
bear  to  contemplate  the  inevitable  consequences  of  dis- 
union. Be  assured,  my  friend,  there  is  no  real  danger 
of  a  predominant  Hopkinsian  influence,  provided  toe 
are  united,  and  act  wisely.  If  we  split,  and  they  unite, 
they  gain  important  advantages.  I  have  conversed 
freely  and  fully  with  Mr.  Woods  on  the  questions  you 
put  into  my  hands.  1  think  you  would  be  entirely 
satisfied  with  his  answers,  as  I  am.  He  declines,  in 
existing  circumstances,  to  put  his  answers  in  writing. 
I  pray  Heaven  to  direct  to  a  speedy  course  in  which 
you  and  he  may  amicably  settle  all  differences,  and 
then  I  am  persuaded  an  interview  on  points  of  doc- 
trine would  result  in  your  satisfaction. 

"  Dr.  Lyman,  Dr.  Holmes,  Mr.  Channing,  and  Mr. 
Bates,  I  learn,  are  decidedly  for  union.  Dr.  Dwight, 
and  the  clergy  of  Connecticut,  and  southward,  and  in 
the  two  western  counties  of  this  State,  so  far  as  I  am  in- 
formed, are  for  union,  as  is  Mr.  Chaplin.  Be  assured 
we  unite  only  on  Catechism  ground.     I  have  not  time 


76  ORIGIN  OF  THE 

to  add.  Excuse  haste.  Let  me  have  something  for 
November  "  Panoplist."  Biography  (Rev.)  of  Dr.  Tap- 
pan,  &G. 

"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"J.  Morse." 

The  "differences  "  alluded  to  near  the  close  of  this  last 
letter  were  not  long  without  conciliation.  They  grew 
out  of  the  unfriendly  position  which  Mr.  Woods,  then 
a  young  man,  and  influenced  doubtless  by  the  theolo- 
gical antipathies  of  some  with  whom  he  was  intimate, 
had  held  toward  Dr.  Dana  of  Ipswich.  Nearly  fifty 
years  afterward,  an  allusion  was  made  to  the  subject, 
too  honorable  to  the  character  of  all  concerned  to  be 
suppressed.  It  occurs  in  a  postscript  to  a  letter  dated 
Jan.  17,  1853. 

"  P.S.  I  have  thought  much  of  late  of  your  good 
father,  and  of  the  endearing  friendship  which  existed 
between  us.  My  heart  aches  to  think  it  was  ever 
interrupted.  The  Lord  forgive  me  for  the  mistakes  I 
committed.  It  grieves  me  that  I  ever  gave  pain  to  his 
tender,  bleeding  heart.  Oh  that  I  could  see  him 
as  I  did  once,  and  pour  out  my  heart  to  him  for  a  few 
moments,  and  receive  the  utterance  of  his  forbearing 
and  fatherly  heart ! 

"  Leonard  Woods. 
"  Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  D.D." 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  apprehensions  felt  in 
1807  as  to  the  theological  views  of  Mr.  Woods,  Mr. 
Dana  in  later  years  most  earnestly  desired  the  contin- 
uance of  his  connection  with  the  seminary  as  a  bul- 
wark against  more  threatening  novelties  than  those 
whose  ingress  had  been  originally  dreaded. 


AND  OVER  SEMINARY.  77 

As  his  father's  letters  at  this  time  afford,  doubtless,  a 
cine  to  his  own  sentiments,  we  subjoin  an  extract :  — 

"  Dec.  28,  1807. 
"  The  existing  trustees  will  certainly  consider  that 
they  are  acting,  not  for  Andover  alone,  not  for  a  small 
section  of  our  country,  but  for  the  whole  body  of  minis- 
ters and  Christians  who  wish  to  maintain  the  simple 
doctrine  of  the  gospel,  without  the  intermixture  of  vain 
philosophy.  And  I  frankly  confess  that  I  tremble  for 
the  event  of  the  present  movements.  There  is  cer- 
tainly an  infinite  distance  between  the  tioo  {questions), 
—  whom  we  can  hold  in  charity,  notwithstanding  di- 
versity of  opinion  on  many  questions,  and  wihom  ice 
ought  to  select  for  our  teachers,  or  those  to/iorn  we  offer  to 
the  public  for  so  great  and  extensive  purposes.  In  the 
latter  case  it  must  be  the  care  of  considerate  men  to  look 
out  such  persons  as  they  sincerely  believe  will  teach 
the  doctrines  of  religion,  in  all  points,  in  a  way  which 
best  agrees  with  the  gospel.  I  am  not  over  fond 
of  creeds  ;  but  we  know  how  we  understand  the  gospel, 
and  we  know  who,  in  our  opinion,  have  obtained  the 
clearest  and  most  incontrovertible  character  in  that 
way.  I  should  expect  my  honored  friend,  Mr.  Abbot, 
would  proceed  in  that  way ;  and  the  other  gentlemen  of 
the  board  generally.  Union  is  a  very  desirable  thing, 
but  it  cannot  be  bought  with  donations." 

A  sequel  of  the  letter  given  above  is  supplied  (fifty 
years  later)  by  the  following  extract  from  the  commem- 
orative discourse,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  at 
the  semi-centennial  celebration  at  Andover,  September, 
1858. 

"Eight  months  after  the  formal  foundino;  of  the  Sem- 


78  ORIGIN  OF   THE 

inary  (4tli  May,  1808),  another  "legal  instrument," 
entitled  "The  Statutes  of  the  Associate  Foundation  in 
the  Theological  Institution  in  Andover,"  was  commu- 
nicated to  the  trustees.  By  that  instrument,  executed 
on  the  21st  of  March  preceding,  the  associate  founders, 
Moses  Brown,  William  Bartlet,  and  John  Norris,  gave 
each  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  William  Bartlet  an 
additional  amount  often  thousand  dollars,  constituting 
a  fund  for  the  support  of  two  professors  and  for  the  aid 
of  students,  and  ordained  certain  statutes  to  control 
the  application  of  that  endowment.  It  is  plain,  from 
the  record,  that  the  trustees  found  in  the  statutes  of 
the  associate  founders  much  matter  for  discussion. 
The  entire  plan  of  a  union  between  two  parties  differ- 
ing in  the  degree  of  their  Calvinism  was  to  be  settled 
by  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of  that  instrument.  The 
whole  day  was  occupied  with  reading  the  instrument 
twice,  and  considering  its  provisions  article  by  article  ; 
and  then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  from  Wednesday 
(May  4)  to  the  following  Monday  (May  9).  At  the 
adjourned  meeting,  beginning  at  two,  p.m.,  the  after- 
noon and  evening  were  devoted  to  the  discussion  and 
consideration  of  the  same  instrument;  but  no  conclu- 
sion was  reached.  The  next  morning,  at  eight  o'clock, 
'  the  discussion  was  resumed  ;  and,  after  mature  consid- 
eration of  the  said  instrument,  and  prayerful  delibera- 
tion on  the  important  subject  thereof,'  the  offered 
endowment  was  accepted  on  the  prescribed  conditions. 
The  vote  was  taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  was  unani- 
mous, with  one  exception.  Only  eight  of  the  twelve 
trustees  appear  to  have  been  present.  Their  names 
appear  upon  the  record  thus :  '  Yeas,  Nehemiah 
Abbot,    Samuel    Farrar,  Jonathan   French,  Jedediah 


ANDOVER  SEMINARY.  79 

Morse,  John  Phillips  (Andover),  Eliphalet  Pearson, 
and  Mark  Newman.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Dana  did 
not  vote.'  The  now  venerable  Dr.  Dana  was  a  young 
man  fifty  years  ago  ;  but  he  was  even  then,  as  he  ever 
has  been,  with  unbending  consistency,  an  Old  School 
Presbyterian  Calvinist,  and  not  a  moderate  Cambridge 
Calvinist;  then,  as  ever  since,  his  Calvinism  was  of  the 
sort  that  makes  no  compromises  with  Hopkinsian  im- 
provements in  theology;  then,  as  ever  since,  he  was  not 
afraid  to  stand,  like  the  poet's  Abdiel,  alone  in  his  un- 
swerving allegiance  to  his  principles." 

At  the  time  referred  to  in  this  extract,  Mr.  Dana 
was  evidently  in  much  perplexity  as  to  the  course 
which  it  became  him  to  pursue.  He  preferred  that 
there  should  be  no  coalition  with  Hopkinsianism.  This 
was,  it  is  thought,  the  preference  also  of  the  four  trus- 
tees not  present  May  9.  He  sympathized  fully  with 
those  who  did  not  wish  the  old  doctrine  to  be  flavored 
with  this  indigenous  root.  But  how  far  his  dread 
of  the  possible  influence  of  Hopkinsianism  should 
make  him  active  in  opposing  what  might  be  a  leading 
of  Providence  to  some  great  and  good  result,  must 
have  given  him  pause.  His  doubts  were  at  length  re- 
moved ;  and  he  intimated,  that,  as  he  was  the  last  to 
come  in  to  the  union,  he  would  be  the  last  to  break  it. 

As  to  the  result  of  the  coalition,  if  either  party  to  it 
were  disappointed,  it  must  have  been  the  favorers  of 
Hopkinsianism;  for  only  a  mild  form  of  that  doctrine 
showed  itself  in  later  years.  * 

*  The  older  Hopkinsians  shut  the  door  of  the  kingdom  pretty  close. 
But,  if  severe  to  others,  they  were  not  less  so  to  themselves.  Later 
Hopkinsianism  was  more  lenient,  but  still  stringent. 

The  writer,  when  fresh  from  college, once  heard  a  moderate  Hopkins- 


80  ORIGIN  OF  THE 

Mr.  Dana  had  long  been  on  terms  of  intimacy  with 
Mr.  Abbot,  of  Andover,  as  well  as  with  the  other 
founders  of  the  institution.  He  writes  from  Andover, 
in  1804,  "I  dined  yesterday  with  Col.  Phillips,  and  ar- 
rived at  our  good  friend  Mr.  Abbot's.  The  family  is 
well,  and  unites  in  love."  A  letter  to  him  from  his 
stepmother,  July  23,  1800,  speaks  of  being  "treated 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abbot  with  all  the  affection  and 
kindness  that  I  could  be  by  the  best  of  parents." 

In  his  sermon  (April  19,  1841)  commemorative  of 
William  Bartlet,  Esq.,  whose  munificence  to  the  Sem- 
inary had  been  on  so  grand  a  scale,  the  following  ref- 
erence is  made  to  the  union  in  1808  between  the 
original  and  the  associate  founders :  — 

"It  is  a  singular  and  memorable  fact,  that  when, 
about  thirty-four  years  since,  several  opulent  and  large- 
hearted  individuals  were  meditating  the  establishment 
of  a  theological  seminary  in  this  place,  an  assemblage 
of  the  same  description,  in  a  distant  part  of  the  county, 
wrere,  without  any  mutual  knowledge  or  communica- 
tion, engaged  in  a  design  entirely  similar.  When  the 
respective  parties  became  acquainted  with  each  other's 
intentions,  a  most  interesting  question  arose.  Would 
the  cause  of  God  and  the  interest  of  the  churches  be 
best  promoted  by  a  separate,  or  a  united,  organization  ? 
Each  plan  had  its  advantages,  and  each  its  difficulties. 
Among  the  last  may  be  mentioned  some  shades  of 

ian  instruct  his  newly  converted  hearers  that  "  God  did  not  bring  them 
into  the  kingdom  for  their  own  sakes,  but  for  the  sake  of  the  good 
which  it  was  for  them  to  do  to  others."  It  seemed  a  natural  inference, 
that  no  one  is  bound  to  be  very  specially  thankful  to  heaven  for  his  own 
salvation.  Certainly,  if  there  were  danger  of  too  warm  gratitude  in 
any  human  bosom  for  divine  benefits,  such  doctrine  would  prove  an 
admirable  refrigerant. 


ANDOVER  SEMINARY.  81 

difference  in  theological  views.  The  question  received 
a  long  and  ample  discussion.  In  the  issue,  difficulties 
vanished,  minor  differences  were  merged,  the  spirit  of 
union  and  of  mutual  concession  prevailed,  and,  as  the 
result,  this  theological  institution  rose  into  existence, 
amply  endowed  and  powerfully  sustained.  The 
founders  at  Andover,  having  been  first  in  maturing  and 
arranging  their  plan,  it  Avas  agreed  that  the  other  party 
should  unite  with  them,  under  the  appellation  of '  Asso- 
ciate Founders.' " 

Mr.  Dana  corresponded  at  this  time  with  Dr.  Morse, 
President  Appleton,  and  others,  in  relation  to  Andover 
affairs.  Some  of  his  letters  have  perhaps  been  pre- 
served (he  kept  no  copies  of  them).  In  the  preceding 
statements  the  writer  has  made  use  of  all  the  material 
in  bis  possession. 

In  these  years,  Unitarianism  was  making  rapid  ad- 
vances in  Massachusetts.  A  sermon,  on  the  "Deity  of 
Christ,"  was  delivered  by  him,  July  31, 1810,  before  the 
Haverhill  Association,  and  was  published  at  their  re- 
quest. A  second  edition  was  published  in  1819,  with 
additions. 

A  copy  of  this  sermon,  with  an  accompanying  letter, 
he  sent  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Abbot,  who,  to  his  great 
grief,  was  now  leaning  to  Unitarianism. 

A  vacancy  occurring  by  the  resignation  of  Rev.  J. 
Appleton,  called  to  the  presidency  of  Bowdoin  College, 
Mr.  Dana  was,  in  1808,  elected  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  Phillips  Exeter  Academy. 

In  1810,  he  went  as  commissioner  from  his  Presbytery 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Here  began  his  acquaintance  and  friendship  with  many 
good  and  eminent  men  whose  theological  views  were 


82  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

specially  congenial   with  his  own.     Writing  to  Mrs. 
Dana  from.  Philadelphia,  May  19, 1810,  he  says, — 

"  I  left  New  York  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  arrived 
in  this  city  the  next  day  before  dinner.  I  lodged  on 
Tuesday  night  at  Princeton,  saw  the  College,  visited 
Dr.  Smith  (to  whom  I  had  a  line  of  introduction  from 
Dr.  Griffin),  and  at  five  in  the  morning  visited  the 
tombs  of  the  venerable  Burr,  Edwards,  Davies,  Finley, 
and  Witherspoon.  The  inscriptions,  which  are  all  in 
Latin  (though  they  ought  not  to  be  so),  I  read  with 

many  emotions  of  reverence   and  delight 

On  arriving  in  town,  I  waited  on  Mr.  Alexander,  who 
received  me  very  cordially." 

"  Monday  Morning. 

"Yesterday,  I  attended,  morning  and  afternoon,  at 
Mr.  Alexander's.  It  was  his  communion ;  and  I  hope 
I  found  some  comfort  and  quickening.  His  church 
consists  of  between  two  and  three  hundred.  You  may 
suppose,  that,  with  sixty  strange  ministers  on  the  spot, 
I  have  found  no  difficulty  hitherto  in  being  exempted 
from  preaching.  And  this  has  been  a  favor.  I  visited 
Bishop  White  on  Saturday,  and  had  a  very  polite  and 
friendly  reception." 

May  24,  he  writes,  "When  I  wrote  last  I  was 
ready  to  hope  I  should  be  exempted  from  preaching ; 
but  I  have  got  entangled.  I  am  to  preach  a  sacrament- 
al lecture  for  Dr  Green  (who  has  treated  me  very  po- 
litely) on  Saturday  evening;  and  a  sermon  for  our  old 
friend,  Mr.  Alexander,  on  Sabbath  afternoon." 

In  1812,  he  was  attain  delegated  to  the  General 
Assembly.  At  the  close  pf  the  session,  having  a  sister 
then  on  a  visit  to  Washington,  he  proceeded  thither, 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Codman.     Those  were 


A  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  S3 

critical  times.  On  the  second  clay  after  their  arrival 
the  sessions  of  Congress  were  with  closed  doors.  He 
had,  however,  the  pleasure  of  seeing,  and  being  intro- 
duced to,  a  large  number  of  the  eminent  men  of  that 
time.  In  one  of  his  letters,  he  bestows  considerable 
space  on  Mr.  Randolph.  Writing  to  Mrs.  Dana,  June  6, 
1812,  he  says,  "Though  precluded  from  hearing  the 
debates  in  Congress,  I  expect  to  enjoy,  this  day,  the 
dearer  pleasure  of  visiting  the  tomb  of  Washington 
Oh  that  you  could  be  with  me !" 

Alluding  to  his  return  home,  he  says,  "  To  this  last 
delightful  event  I  now  look  forward.  Shall  I  once 
more  meet  you  in  peace  ;  shall  I  again  enjoy  the  thou- 
sand delights  of  home,  and  not  wander  soon  from  you 
again  ?  May  the  all-gracious  Being  vouchsafe  us  a  hap- 
py meeting !  " 

He  whose  heart  was  so  tenderly  alive  to  the  endear- 
ments of  his  home,  was  soon  to  behold  it  a  house  of 
mourning.  The  above  must  have  been  one  of  his  last  let- 
tejs  to  her  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  Twelve  years  of 
their  union  were  not  quite  complete,  when,  with  but  lit- 
tle premonition,  she  was  taken  from  him,  Dec.  25, 1812. 

The  only  record  of  this  mournful  period  is  contained 
in  a  letter  written  by  him  three  months  afterward.  It 
is  introduced  here,  not  without  hesitation  ;  for  such 
grief  is  sacred.  Yet  who  does  not  feel,  that,  by  sympa- 
thy with  sorrow  like  this,  the  heart  is  purified  ? 

TO    MRS.    D.    KMPP. 

"  Newburyport,  March  27,  1813. 
"Dear  Madam,  —  I  have  many  thanks  to  give  for 
your  truly  kind,  sympathetic,  and  consoling  letter.     It 
has  been  gratifying  and  comforting,  not  only  to  myself, 


84  A   HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 

but  to  many  other  friends  of  the  clear,  favored  woman 
who  was  once  mine,  and  of  whom  I  was  so  unworthy. 
Next  to  the  support  which  is  derived  directly  from 
religion  is  that  which  comes  through  the  medium 
of  earthly  friends.  The  friends  of  her  who  is  gone  are 
peculiarly  dear  to  me  now  ;  their  kind  communications 
form  a  principal  portion  of  the  solace  of  my  lonely  state. 

"Mrs.  Dana's  departure  was  not  a  little  sudden.  The 
first  week  after  her  confinement,  she  was  remarkably 
comfortable ;  the  second,  not  so  well ;  but  the  physi- 
cian was  not  at  all  alarmed.  But  the  beginning  of  the 
third  week,  a  fever,  which  for  several  days  had  been 
lurking  about  her,  assumed  a  formidable  aspect;  her 
strength  rapidly  sank  away ;  and  her  case  became  des- 
perate, almost  as  soon  as  it  appeared  alarming.  For 
forty-eight  hours  before  she  expired,  she  was  nearly  in- 
capable of  speech  and  thought.  But  before  this  period, 
and  when,  I  believe,  she  was  conscious  of  the  danger 
of  her  state,  she  expressed  to  me,  in  a  short  conver- 
sation, her  submission  and  her  humble  hope.  At  the 
close  of  the  conversation,  being  extremely  feeble,  she 
affectionately  and  repeatedly  kissed  my  hand. 

"My  loss,  and  that  of  my  dear  children,  you  well 
know,  is  great  and  inexpressible.  The  world  knew 
comparatively  little  of  her  worth  ;  nor  was  she  anxious 
that  it  should  know  more.  One  circumstance  only  ap- 
pears to  me  surprising;  and  that  is, that  she  could  love 
with  such  tenderness,  such  ardor  and  constancy,  such 
an  unworthy  creature  as  myself. 

"But  the  Lord  has  taken  her  in  his  own  best  time 
and  way;  and  why  should  I  repine?  Can  I  ever  be 
duly  thankful  that  such  a  blessing  was  indulged  me  for 
twelve  years?     Above  all  I  desire  to  bless  God  that  I 


A  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  85 

have  no  anxiety  respecting  her  eternal  state.  I  mean, 
I  have  full  confidence  that  her  spirit  has  found  its  ever- 
lasting rest,  and  that  she  is  now  triumphing  in  the  pres- 
ence of  that  Redeemer  whom,  while  here,  she  loved 
and  trusted.  You  know  she  was  a  sufferer,  and,  had 
she  lived,  would  probably  have  continued  to  suffer. 
Her  removal,  therefore,  was  a  most  merciful  exemp- 
tion. 

"When  I  review  the  scene  which  I  have  recently 
passed,  I  am  frequently  astonished  at  myself.  Through 
the  great  mercy  of  God,  I  was  enabled  to  go  forth  and 
preach  to  my  dear  people  the  day  after  the  funeral; 
and  I  have  been  able  to  perform  my  ministerial  duties 
with  little  interruption  since ;  but  my  loss  appears 
more  and  more  real  every  day,  and  sometimes  presses 
upon  me  in  a  way  almost  overwhelming.  Often, 
when  I  look  upon  my  children,  my  sensations  are  sin- 
gularly acute.  How  shall  I  supply  the  immense  loss 
they  have  sustained  ?  How  act  the  father's  and  the  mo- 
ther's part  in  one  ?  How  be  suitably  faithful,  and  yet 
suitably  tender?  How  take  the  dear  immortals  by 
the  hand,  and  lead  them  up  to  God  and  heaven  ? 

"Let  me  entreat  your  continued  and  earnest  prayers 
that  this  awful  visitation  of  a  sovereign  and  holy  God 
may  not  be  lost  upon  me  ;  that  I  may  neither  murmur, 
nor  despise,  nor  sink  ;  that,  through  the  blessing  of  God 
upon  it,  I  may  become  a  better  man,  a  better  father,  a 
more  faithful  and  engaged  minister. 

"  My  sister  Betsey  is  with  me,  and  I  consider  it  a  great 
favor.  She  cheers  my  solitary  house,  and  takes  the 
best  care  of  my  family.  She  thanks  you  for  your  kind 
remembrance,  and  requests  you  to  accept  her  sincere 
love. 


86  A  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 

"Please  to  present  my  kind  regards  to  Mr.  Knapp. 
When  another  season  shall  come,  yon  will  be  able,  I 
hope,  to  visit  Newburyport.  It  will  afford  me  a  sincere 
gratification  to  see  yon  at  my  house.  In  the  mean 
time,  believe  me,  dear  madam,  with  much  esteem 
and  affection,  "Yours, 

"Daniel  Dana." 

Beneath  the  record  of  her  death,  on  the  grave-stone, 
he  placed  these  lines,  — 

"  Go,  lovely  mourner,  to  thy  long- sought  rest; 
Go  join  the  songs  and  triumphs  of  the  blest: 
No  pain  can  reach  thee  there ;  no  anxious  fear 
Assail  thy  heart,  or  wring  the  bitter  tear. 
Our  griefs  we'll  banish  too;  soon  we'll  remove, 
And  meet  thee  in  the  paradise  above." 

Two  of  her  sisters,  resident  in  Newburyport,  lived  to 
serene,  Christian  old  age.  Their  devoted  attachment 
to  him  was  unchanging;  the  earliest,  happiest  recollec- 
tions of  his  children  are  indissolubly  associated  with 
them  and  their  families ;  and  the  kind  and  gentle  at- 
tentions of  those  of  them  that  survived,  followed  him 
to  the  latest  hour  of  his  life. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1813-1820. 

General  Assembly  of  1814.  —  Death  of  Me. 
Coombs.  —  Publications.  —  Connection  with  Va- 
rious Societies.  —  Marriage.  —  Pastoral  La- 
bors. —  Bereavements. 

In  1814  he  again  went  to  the  General  Assembly.  To 
his  sister,  then  having  charge  of  his  household,  he 
writes  from  New  York  :  — 

"  I  arrived  in  this  city  about  eight,  Saturday  evening, 
and  lodged  at  the  City  Hotel,  one  of  those  large  es- 
tablishments where  the  weary  traveller  can  have  every 
thing  but  comfort  and  retirement.  But,  being  much 
fatigued,  I  slept  well,  and  awoke  greatly  refreshed.  I 
went  in  the  morning  to  young  Mr.  Spring's,  and 
preached  for  him  in  the  forenoon.  Pie  was  urgent  with 
me  to  preach  for  him  in  the  afternoon  or  evening  ;  but 
in  this  case  you  have  to  give  me  the  credit  of  saying 
no.  .  .  .  As  to  my  dear  families,  great  and  small, 
which  I  have  left  behind,  you  will  not  be  surprised  to 
hear  that  my  efforts  to  forget  them  are  not  very  effec- 
tual. I  expect  to  succeed  better  when  I  shall  have 
plunged  into  the  variety  of  business  which  generally 
occurs  at  Philadelphia.  What  I  most  wish  is,  to  com- 
mit these  objects  of  my  affection  and  anxiety  into  the 
arms  of  infinite  mercy." 

87 


88  MR.   COOMBS. 

"  Philadelphia,  May  25,  1814. 
..."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wickes  are  the  same  kind  and 
affectionate  friends  as  ever.     .  .  .  Give  muck  love  to 
every  individual  of  the  family.     To  my  dear  Father 
Coombs  I  shall  endeavor  to  write  soon. 

"  Most  affectionately  yours, 

"Daniel  Dana. 
"  Miss  Elizabeth  Dana." 

Sad  news  awaited  him  whilst  writing  the  above  let- 
ter. Within  three  days  of  its  date,  the  death  of  Mr. 
Coombs  took  place.  From  the  sermon  commemora- 
tive of  him,  we  subjoin  a  few  paragraphs  :  — 

"In  the  course  of  these  imperfect  observations,  your 
minds  have,  I  doubt  not,  often  recurred  to  that  beloved 
and  venerable  man  whom  Heaven  has  recently  removed 
from  us,  to  the  unspeakable  grief  of  his  family  and 
friends,  of  this  Christian  church  and  society,  of  the 
town  at  large,  and  of  the  friends  of  religion  and  virtue 
generally,  wherever  he  was  known.  So  deep  and  ten- 
der is  my  personal  interest  in  the  scene,  that,  on  many 
accounts,  it  would  have  been  a  relief  to  be  permitted 
to  pass  the  subject  in  silence.  .  .  . 

"The  friend  whom  we  lament  was  the  son  of  emi- 
nently pious  parents.  He  himself,  at  a  period  just  be- 
yond inf-mcy,  commenced  the  practice  of  secret  prayer, 
in  which  he  persevered  to  the  close  of  life. 

"While  a  youth,  his  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  love 
of  action,  were  equally  conspicuous.  These  disposi- 
tions he  gratified  at  once,  by  engaging  in  a  maritime 
life,  in  which  he  continued  till  near  the  age  of  forty. 
Here,  his  activity,  his  enterprising  disposition,  and  his 
punctuality  in  business,  united  with  the  strictest  integ- 


J/7?.    COOMBS.  89 

rity,  soon  brought  him  into  general  notice,  and  engaged 
the  unlimited  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  was 
concerned.  His  last  voyage  was  performed  in  the 
year  1775,  and  merits  particular  notice.  It  was  under- 
taken just  before  the  commencement  of  hostilities  with 
the  mother  country,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  from 
the  island  of  Guadaloupe,  a  supply  of  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, such  as  he  knew  would  be  pressingly  needed  in  the 
approaching  contest.  He  succeeded  beyond  his  most 
sanguine  expectations.  Many  circumstances  marked 
this  voyage  as  an  effort  of  ardent  and  disinterested 
patriotism  ;  particularly  the  personal  danger  of  the  at- 
tempt, and  the  immediate  surrender  of  the  results  of 
the  voyage  to  the  authorities  of  the  town,  without  any 
stipulated  recompense. 

"He  engaged,  with  all  his  constitutional  ardor,  in  the 
cause  of  the  Revolution ;  being  firmly  persuaded  that 
it  was  the  cause  of  justice,  no  less  than  of  liberty.  He 
promoted  it  by  a  variety  of  exertions  and  sacrifices. 
He  was  early  chosen  a  member  of  one  of  those  Com- 
mittees of  Safety  and  Correspondence,  which,  according 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  assumed  and  exercised 
the  powers  of  government.  In  this  office  he  contin- 
ued—  active,  influential,  and  useful — until  the  regular 
authority  was  restored. 

"But  it  is  particularly  pleasant  to  dwell  on  those 
strong  indications  of  piety  by  which  his  character  was 
distinguished  and  adorned.  None  who  knew  him  in- 
timately could  doubt  that  he  was  eminent  in  religion, 
and  in  all  the  dignified  and  amiable  virtues  which  reli- 
gion inspires. 

"  He  was  a  decided  friend  to  what  have  been  called 
the  doctrines  of  grace  y  or  to  those  truths  which  dis- 


90  MR.    COOMBS. 

tinguish  the  gospel  from  every  other  system,  and  mark 
it  as  a  religion  for  sinners.  On  these  doctrines,  and  on 
these  alone,  he  thought  it  safe  to  build  his  immortal 
hopes.  Yet  he  was  not  a  high  speculatist.  His  read- 
ing (and  he  read  much)  was  principally  of  the  experi- 
mental and  practical  kind.  Such  too  was  his  religion. 
It  was  the  religion  of  the  heart,  the  temper,  and  con- 
duct. No  man  seemed  to  entertain  a  higher  opinion 
of  the  value  and  importance  of  truth  ;  yet  none  was 
further  from  the  indulgence  of  a  fierce  and  bigoted  zeal, 
or  from  substituting  a  set  of  barren,  orthodox  specula- 
tions in  the  place  of  a  pious  temper  and  practice. 

"He  appeared  to  realize  no  value  in  wealth  but  as  it 
furnished  the  means  of  alleviating  distress,  and  of  doing- 
good  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  his  fellow-men.  In  the 
most  generous,  yet  simple  and  unostentatious  manner 
was  his  wealth  devoted  to  these  noble  purposes.  To 
many  he  was  an  unknown  benefactor.  His  humanity 
and  compassion  were  frequently  conspicuous;  and  very 
signally  in  that  remarkable  exertion  to  save  a  drown- 
ing youth  which  received  so  honorable  a  notice  from 
the  Humane  Society  in  this  place.  * 

"  He  loved  goodness  for  its  own  sake.  Every  real 
Christian  had  a  passport  to  his  heart.  He  had  an  unu- 
sual share  of  the  uniting,  healing  spirit  of  Christianity. 
He  did  much,  and  attempted  more,  to  banish  those  di- 
visions and  asperities  which  have  operated  such  wide- 
spread evil  among  us. 

.  .  .  "Yes,  he  is  gone  —  mature  in  years,  rich  in  faith, 
rich  in  good  works.  No  more  will  you  behold,  in  yon- 
der pew,  his  fixed,  attentive  eye.     No  more  will  you 

*  At  the  nge  of  seventy-six,  he  leaped  from  his  wharf  into  deep  water 
to  save  a  lad  from  drowning. 


PUBLICATIONS.  91 

witness  his  expressive,  venerable  countenance,  alter- 
nately solemnized,  melted,  and  cheered  by  the  contem- 
plation of  divine  truth.  Ah,  who  shall  receive  his  fall- 
ing mantle?  Who,  like  him,  shall  be  at  once  the  ad- 
vocate and  the  ornament  of  genuine  religion? 

..."  We  who  have  been  so  near  him ;  we  to  whom 
he  has  opened,  from  day  to  day,  his  inmost  mind  and 
heart;  we  who  saw  him  live  at  the  very  gate  of  heaven, — 
can  we  doubt  whether  it  is  well  with  him  now?  No! 
We  believe  that  to  him  to  live  was  Christ;  we  have 
equal  evidence  that  to  die  was  gain." 

Flavel's  "  Token  for  Mourners,"  and  Cecil's  "  Friendly 
Visit  to  the  House  of  Mourning,"  revised  and  abridged 
by  Mr.  Dana,  perhaps  the  previous  year,  were  in  181-4 
published  by  the  then  newly-formed  New-England 
Tract  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  zealous  friend.  They 
are  now  among  the  permanent  issues  of  the  American 
Tract  Society.     Tract  No.  44  is  also  from  his  pen. 

In  these  years,  he  was  also  actively  engaged  as  an 
officer  and  advocate  of  other  benevolent  associations, 
then  in  their  incipiency  :  such  as  the  Merrimack  Bible 
Society,  of  which  he  was  Secretary;  the  Education  So- 
ciety ;  the  Merrimack  Humane  Society ;  the  Massachu- 
setts Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  &c. 

For  the  seven  years  succeeding  1813,  his  publications, 
mostly  sermons  and  addresses,  —  several  before  the  so- 
cieties above  named,  —  averaged  more  than  three  every 
year,  besides  what  he  contributed  to  periodicals. 
When  the  constitution  of  the  Merrimack  Bible  Society 
was  adopted,  Jan.  17,  1810,  the  address  which  was 
issued,  setting  forth  its  objects,  was  from  his  pen.  It 
would  seem  from  the  letters  to  him  of  Dr.  Morse,  Dr. 
Worcester,  Dr.  Griffin,  and   others,  that  he  was  much 


92  PUBLICATIONS. 

relied  on  as  a  contributor  to  the  "  Panoplist."  In  one 
letter, .Dr.  Morse  says,  "You  need  make  no  apology, 
either  on  account  of  your  engagements  or  your  eyes : 
I  am  aware  of  both,  and  feel  the  more  obliged  to  you 
for  what  you  do." 

Some  years  before,  he  had  prepared  for  the  press  a 
volume,  entitled  "  Memoirs  of  Pious  Women,"  abridged 
from  the  larger  work  of  Dr.  Gibbons. 

No  office  which  he  held  was  a  sinecure.  At  the 
meetings  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Exeter  and  Andover 
Academies  he  was  always  present;  but  this  was  doubt- 
less a  pastime  in  comparison  with  the  weightier  respon- 
sibilities attached  to  his  connection  with  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary. 

A  pleasant  reminiscence  of  him,  as  he  was  at  this 
time,  was  given,  after  his  decease,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Goodell.  Writing  from  Constantinople,  April  10, 1860, 
he  says,  — 

"  I  have  very  pleasant  and  very  distinct  recollections 
of  him  from  my  first  going  to  Andover  Academy,  in 
1812,  to  fit  for  college ;  for  he,  being  one  of  the  trus- 
tees, was  always  present  at  the  examinations,  and  his 
sweet  countenance  and  his  modest  appearance,  with 
his  green  spectacles,  gave  us  all  a  pleasant  impression 
of  his  character." 

In  these  years,  he  was  associated  in  good  works  with 
many  eminent  contemporaries.  An  address  issued  by 
the  directors  of  the  Education  Society,  soon  after  the 
inception  of  the  enterprise,  has  the  following  names 
appended  :  "Eliphalet  Pearson,  Abiel  Holmes,  Daniel 
Dana,  Ebenezer  Porter,  Joshua  Bates,  Brown  Emerson, 
Asa  Eaton."  He  was  in  correspondence  with  Dr  Pay- 
son  in  reference  to  the  formation  of  the  American  Bi- 
ble Society. 


MARRIAGE.  93 

In  1814,  Dartmouth  College  honored  him  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Three  years  later,  he 
delivered  the  address  before  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Soci- 
ety of  Dartmouth  College,  of  which  they  obtained  a 
copy  for  the  press. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1814,  he  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Emery,  M.D.,  of  Fryeburg,  Me. 
Their  union  continued  but  four  years  and  a  half,  being 
sundered  by  her  death  on  the  8th  of  May,  1819.  Of 
the  eighty-eight  years  accorded  to  him  by  Divine  Pro- 
vidence, but  sixteen  and  a  half  were  included  in  the 
marriage  state. 

Numerous  as  were  the  public  calls  made  upon  him 
in  these  years,  he  was  still  a  most  devoted  pastor ;  and 
many  were  the  pleasing  testimonies  given  of  the  affec- 
tionate attachment  of  those  for  whose  spiritual  interests 
he  labored  with  untiring  zeal.  At  one  time,  he  indulged 
himself  in  the  grateful  task  of  keeping  a.  record  of  the 
generous  gifts  made  him  by  individuals  of  his  congre- 
gation. But  he  had  also  the  higher  joy  of  seeing  the 
work  of  the  Lord  prospering.  He  received,  in  the  last 
six  years  of  his  pastoral  connection,  nearly  as  many  to 
the  communion  of  the  church  as  he  had  done  in  the 
twenty  years  that  preceded. 

In  January,  1816,  a  newspaper  discussion  of  the 
question,  "  Is  Christmas  Day  holy  time  *?  "  between  him- 
self and  the  Rev.  James  Morss  ("Inquirer"  and 
"  Philo  "  )  was  published  in  pamphlet  form.  Only  the 
writers'  names  are  suppressed :  the  articles  of  each  are 
strongly  characteristic. 

In  1817,  he  took  an  active  part  in  commencing,  in 
Newburyport,  the  novel  experiment  of  Sunday  schools. 
The  next  year  (Aug.  10),  he  delivered  an  address  at  a 


04  PASTORAL  LABORS. 

public  meeting  of  the  schools  "  under  the  patronage  of 
the  Newburyport  Sunday  School  and  Tract  Society," 
at  which  were  present  eight  hundred  scholars. 

The  writer's  more  distinct  recollections  of  his  father 
commence  about  this  time.  He  remembers  him  ten- 
derly affectionate  in  his  family,  animated  and  viva- 
cious in  social  intercourse,  exercising  a  free  hospitality, 
and  especially  interested  in  the  converse  of  clerical 
strangers  (some  of  whom  were  from  the  distant  South) ; 
taking  great  delight  withal  in  sacred  music,  which  he 
often  introduced  as  a  supplement  to  the  pleasures  of 
conversation.  The  light  of  his  eyes  at  this  period  was 
his  infant  son,  who  bore  his  own  name.  He  would  play 
with  him,  and  sing  to  him,  with  a  buoyancy  of  spirit 
perhaps  never  afterwards  equalled. 

But  with  these  sunny  recollections  there  rises  also 
the  image  of  one  at  times  burdened  with  cares,  with 
sensibilities  overtasked,  mind  pre-occupied,  thoughts  ab- 
sent from  the  scenes  around.  So  numerous  and  press- 
ing were  his  engagements,  that,  having  undertaken 
for  a  while,  when  the  Academy  was  closed,  to  superin- 
tend the  classical  studies  of  his  elder  son,  he  found  but 
one  day  in  the  week  in  which  he  could  get  a  leisure 
hour  for  the  purpose.  His  pastoral  duties,  always 
arduous,  were  often  specially  trying  to  sensibilities  like 
his.  His  large  congregation  included  many  families 
that  had  relatives  at  sea.  If  a  death  occurred  among 
these  absent  ones,  the  sad  necessity  was  usually  laid  on 
him  of  announcing  it  to  the  bereaved  at  home.  One 
painful  effect  of  this  he  saw,  sometimes,  and  lamented, 
in  the  evident  agitation  which  a  visit  from  him  at  first 
excited  among  those  who  had  relatives  at  sea. 

Memory   recalls   the  spacious   church   in  which   he 


PASTORAL  LABORS.  95 

preached,  as  it  was  at  that  time.  The  pulpit  adjoined 
the  long  side.  Half  way  up  the  stairs  to  it,  a  door 
opened  into  a  square  pew,  occupied  by  a  few  aged  and 
deaf  men.  Below  this,  one  or  two  steps  above  the 
floor  of  the  church,  was  a  slip  in  which,  fronting  the 
congregation,  sat  the  two  deacons, "  whose  looks  adorned 
the  venerable  place."  The  taller  of  the  two  returns 
to  recollection,  as  he  sat  erect,  still  as  a  statue,  his  high 
forehead  indicating  something  of  intellectual  culture, 
his  eyes  modestly  cast  down,  apparently  drinking  in 
every  word  of  the  speaker,  yet  not  so  much  with  any 
excited  impulse  of  feeling,  as  with  calm  and  holy  satis- 
faction. By  a  strange  misnomer,  this  good  man,  whose 
meek  aspect  was  the  very  mirror  of  placid  quiet  and 
saintly  benignity,  was  named  Moody.  By  his  side  was 
good  Deacon  Beck. 

The  spacious  church  was  always  full ;  the  congrega- 
tion eminently  solemn  and  attentive.  The  morning 
discourse,  at  the  time  referred  to,  was  expository  and 
extemporaneous.  Some  of  the  subjects,  particularly 
from  the  25th  chapter  of  Matthew,  the  writer  still 
recollects ;  but  as  there  were  no  stoves  in  those  days, 
during  the  cold  months,  the  question,  when  the  sermon 
would  end,  was  always  uppermost  in  the  juvenile  mind. 
By  a  large  induction  it  was  partially  solved ;  the  minute- 
hand  of  the  clock,  opposite  the  pulpit  came  to  be  an 
index  of  the  welcome  moment  when  "  fifthly  and  last- 
ly "  might  be  expected.  It  was  impossible  not  to  feel 
aggrieved,  when,  as  sometimes,  there  was  a  sixthly,  and 
even  seventhly. 

But  to  hearers  more  susceptible  of  edification,  these 
extemporaneous  discourses  came  home  with  perhaps 
more  of  power  and  unction  than  any  that  have  been 


96  BEREAVEMENTS. 

left  in  print.  They  were  fresh  from  an  excited  mind 
and  heart,  for  his  custom  was  to  give  up  a  large  part  of 
the  preceding  night  to  their  preparation.  As  a  con- 
sequence, he  was  always  much  exhausted  after  the 
second  service  on  Sunday.  These  sermons  could  not 
be  recalled.  The  writer  remembers,  that,  with  some 
urgency,  a  copy  for  the  press  of  a  short  series  of  them 
was  desired  at  one  time,  but  declined  on  the  ground  of 
the  impossibility  of  reproducing  them  as  they  had 
been  delivered. 

In  March,  1818,  he  was  called  to  preach  at  the 
funeral  of  his  friend,  Dr.  Morrison.  The  sermon  shows 
how  loved  and  venerated  an  associate  its  author  had 
long  had  in  the  presbytery,  and  what  were  the  qualities 
of  the  pastor  and  the  man  which  could  most  attract 
his  affection. 

Whilst  thus  responding  to  every  call  at  home  and 
abroad,  —  "instant  in  season,  out  of  season,"  abundant 
in  labors  which  heavily  taxed  a  constitution  never 
strong,  —  more  than  one  solemn  and  affecting  dispen- 
sation of  Divine  Providence  had  superadded  to  his 
pastoral  cares  the  weighty  pressure  of  domestic  anxiety 
and  grief.  In  May,  1819,  death  again  crossed  his  thresh- 
old.  Again  were  young  children  separated  forever 
from  a  mother's  tender  care.  The  sister,  nearest  to  him 
in  age,  who  had  once  cheered  his  loneliness,  had  been 
called  to  her  rest  three  years  before.  He  was  left  with 
a  family  of  ten  children,  the  oldest  not  yet  eighteen. 

Still  was  he  the  devoted  pastor,  exhausting  his  time 
and  strength  in  the  great  work  to  which  he  was  called. 
Few  to  whom  his  daily  life  was  known,  would  have 
hesitated  to  apply  to  himself  the  lines  he  quotes  in  a 
sermon,    delivered   about   this    time    on    occasion    of 


BEBEA  VEMENTS.  97 

the  early  death  of  the  Rev.  Levi  Hartshorn,  to  whom 
he-  was  warmly  attached,  — 

"  But  in  his  duty,  prompt  at  every  call, 
He  watched  and  wept,  he  prayed  and  felt,  for  all. 
And,  as  a  bird  each  fond  endearment  tries 
To  tempt  her  new-fledged  offspring  to  the  skies, 
He  tried  each  art,  reproved  each  dull  delay, 
Allured  to  brighter  worlds,  and  led  the  way." 


CHAPTER   X. 


1820-1821. 


Election  to  the  Presidency  of   Dartmouth 
College.  —  Removal  to  New  Hampshire. 

In  August,  1820,  it  came  to  his  knowledge  that  his 
name  was  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Presidency 
of  Dartmouth  College.  He  immediately  addressed  to 
one  of  the  professors  of  the  college  the  following  letter: 

"  Newburyport,  Aug.  16,  1S20. 

"  Dear  Sir,  —  Through  a  medium  which  claims  my 
confidence,  I  have  recently  learned,  that,  in  contemplat- 
ing a  supply  of  the  lamented  vacancy  in  Dartmouth 
College,  some  of  the  gentlemen  trustees  have  had  their 
attention  turned  to  myself.  In  this  state  of  things,  it  will 
not,  I  trust,  be  deemed  indecorous,  if,  with  a  view  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  embarrassment  or  delay  in 
this  momentous  affair,  I  signify  my  wish  to  decline  the 
honor  of  being  considered  as  a  candidate.  The  reasons 
which  govern  me  in  this  case,  it  is  not  needful,  I  con- 
ceive, for  me  to  detail.  It  may  be  sufficient  to  state 
that  they  are,  in  my  view,  imperious  and  decisive. 

"  Let  me  request  the  favor  that  you  will  seasonably 
impart  the  substance  of  this  communication,  in  what 
form  you  please,  to  some  member  or  members  of  the 
reverend  and  honorable  Board. 

"  I  am  very  respectfully,  dear  sir, 

"  Your  friend  and  servant, 
98  "D.Dana." 


DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE.  99 

This  letter  he  sent  to  his  friend  and  neighbor,  Rev. 
Mr.  Putnam  of  Portsmouth,  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  College,  accompanying  it  with  the 
following  note :  — 

"  Newbueyport,  Aug.  16,  1820. 

"Rev.  and  dear  Sir, —  I  expect  to  supply  your 
desk  the  Sabbath  after  next. 

"The  enclosed  letter  to  Dr.  M.  expresses  my  wish 
totally  to  decline  the  honor  of  being  a  candidate  to  fill 
the  vacancy  in  college.  I  mention  this  that  you  may 
be  sure  to  deliver  the  letter  in  season ;  and  likewise  to 
request,  that  should  Dr.  M.  be  prevented,  by  any  cas- 
ualty, from  communicating  my  wish  to  the  Board,  you 
yourself  would  do  it,  either  personally  or  by  a  line. 
Believe  me  as  ever, 

"Affectionately  yours, 

"Daniel  Dana." 

Notwithstanding  this  decisive  action  on  his  part,  he 
soon  received  the  official  announcement  that  he  had 
been  by  the  Trustees  (Aug.  22,  1820)  unanimously 
elected  President  of  Dartmouth  College. 

The  following  is  one  of  many  letters  addressed  to 
him,  urging  his  acceptance  of  the  office  :  — 

"  Dartmouth  College,  Sept.  7,  1820. 

"  Rev.  and  dear  Sir,  —  Not  having  heard  from 
any  of  our  friends  what  is  the  prospect  in  regard  to 
your  acceptance  of  the  appointment  made  by  our  trus- 
tees, I  cannot  help  troubling  you  with  a  line. 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  that  our  solicitude  would  rise  to 
extreme  distress,  were  we  seriously  apprehensive  that 
you  might  decide  in  the  negative.     Oh,  sir,  remember 


100  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE. 

the  desolations  of  Zion  here,  and  have  compassion. 
The  friends  of  the  college  look  to  yon,  and  to  yon  only, 
to  repair  the  waste  places.  When  you  know  that  the 
voice  of  the  trustees  conspires  with  that  of  the  clergy 
and  of  the  public  at  large,  and  when  this  same  voice 
is  echoed  from  the  tomb  of  our  late  beloved  and 
much  lamented  President  Brown,  can  you  hesitate? 
That  good  man,  in  his  last  days,  with  almost  the  confi- 
dence and  ardor  of  prophecy,  declared  his  belief  in  the 
future  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  Dartmouth  College. 
You  have,  I  hope,  been  informed  of  the  strong  manner 
in  which  he,  last  autumn,  expressed  himself  in  relation 
to  a  successor ;  and  of  the  same  decided  and  unwaver- 
ing opinion  which  came  from  his  mouth  a  few  days 
before  his  death.  '  I  have,'  said  he,  'but  one  candidate, 
and  that  is  Dr.  Dana.  Whom  do  they  talk  of  for  a 
successor?  My  opinion  is  exactly  the  same  as  when 
I  conversed  with  you  last  fall.' 

"  I  do  pray,  my  dear  sir,  that  Divine  Providence  may 
not  permit  you  to  fail  of  coming. 

"  I  should  be  grieved  if,  on  making  the  trial,  you  should 
not  find  yourself  pleasantly  situated  here.  I  verily 
believe  that  you  would  find  a  disposition  on  the  part  of 
the  people  of  the  village,  including  all  the  college  fac- 
ulty, to  render  your  situation  comfortable  and  pleasant. 

"  We  shall  watch  every  mail  and  ask  every  friend, 
till  we  learn  the  decision,  or  rather  what  we  may  ex- 
pect the  decision  to  be. 

"  With  great  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  D.  M." 

What  is  here  stated  as  to  President  Brown  was  also 
true  of  President  Appleton  of  Bowdoin  College.     Each 


DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE.  101 

had  desired  that  Dr.  Dana  should  be  his  successor. 
No  stronger  proof  could  be  given  of  the  confidence 
felt  in  hirn,  than  these  concurrent  last  wishes  of  two 
such  men.  Each  had  brought  to  the  office  he  held,  not 
merely  intellectual  pre-eminence,  but  a  dignity  and 
elevation  of  character,  and  a  singleness  of  purpose,  rare- 
ly equalled  ;  and  to  each  the  future  welfare  of  the  insti- 
tution over  which  he  presided  was  an  object  of  the 
deepest  solicitude.  The  name  of  Francis  Brown  still 
awakens  enthusiasm  among  the  alumni  of  Dartmouth. 
He  was  identified  with  the  college  during  a  period  of 
unexampled  trial ;  and  to  his  devotion  to  its  interests, 
his  indomitable  energy,  and  unfaltering  faith,  as  much, 
perhaps,  as  to  the  splendid  forensic  efforts  of  Daniel 
Webster,  was  its  ultimate  triumph  due.  The  State 
Legislature,  under  the  influence  of  strong  party  excite- 
ment, had  assumed  to  annul  its  charter,  and  to  make 
the  institution,  under  a  new  name,  wholly  dependent 
on  itself;  imposing  a  fine  of  five  hundred  dollars  upon 
any  one  who  should  act  as  trustee,  president,  professor, 
&c,  in  Dartmouth  College.  After  a  five-years'  struggle, 
most  honorable  to  the  firmness  of  the  faculty,  and  to 
the  fidelity  of  the  students,  the  great  body  of  whom 
adhered  to  the  college,  this  radicalism  was  finally  ar- 
rested by  the  successful  result  of  an  appeal  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Dana  had  watched,  with  profound  interest,  the 
progress  of  this  remarkable  struggle.  No  appeal  could 
have  been  made  to  him  on  behalf  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, without  enlisting  his  warm  sympathy.  The  pain- 
ful conflict  which  now  agitated  his  mind  is  best  pre- 
sented in   his  own   words.*     "  If  this    seminary  was 

*  Farewell  Sermon. 
9* 


102  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE. 

endeared  to  me  as  the  scene  of  my  youthful  instruction, 
it  was  still  more  endeared  by  its  own  interesting  char- 
acter ;  by  its  early  consecration  to  the  interests  of  the 
Redeemer  and  his  religion;  and  by  the  important 
services  which,  from  its  first  existence,  it  had  rendered 
to  the  church  and  the  community.  Its  recent  afflicting 
struggle  for  existence  was  viewed  as  giving  it  additional 
claims  to  the  sympathy  and  aid  of  the  public,  and 
especially  of  its  own  sons.  And  the  signal  interpositions 
of  Heaven  in  its  behalf  seemed  to  announce  it  as  a 
favorite  child  of  Providence ;  as  destined  to  be  blessed, 
and  to  be  made  a  blessing  in  future  time. 

"If  these  views  of  things  may  be  naturally  thought 
to  favor  my  acceptance  of  the  appointment,  other  con- 
siderations arose,  which  seemed  even  more  powerfully 
to  forbid  it.  To  part  from  a  people  so  long  and  so  in- 
expressibly endeared  ;  to  quit  a  scene  of  labors  which, 
though  multiplied  and  exhausting,  have  been  ever  de- 
lightful ;  to  leave  you  distressed,  anxious,  shepherdless, 
and  exposed  to  a  variety  of  evils  —  these  are  thoughts 
which  have  nearly  torn  my  heart  asunder.  To  enter, 
at  my  age,  and  with  a  deep  consciousness  of  insuffi- 
ciency, on  a  sphere  embracing  new  duties,  new  cares,  new 
responsibilities  ;  a  sphere  demanding  all  my  exertions, 
and  in  which  all  my  exertions  may  fail  of  securing  suc- 
cess—  is  an  undertaking  from  which  my  feelings  have 
a  thousand  times  revolted. 

"  It  was  not  fit,  it  was  not  lawful,  in  a  case  of  such 
magnitude,  to  resign  myself  to  the  government  of  mere 
feeling.  The  very  fact  that  my  strongest  sensibilities 
were  arrayed  against  the  measure  of  a  separation,  im- 
periously forbade  my  trusting  their  decision.  Amid 
the  agitations  and  conflicts  of  my  mind,  I  hope  I  have 


DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE.  103 

had  but  one  governing  object  —  to  know  the  will  of 
God  —  to  find  the  path  of  duty." 

It  was  determined,  by  both  pastor  and  people,  to 
submit  the  case  to  the  presbytery,  and  abide  by  their 
decision.  To  this  body,  convened  at  Bradford,  Sept. 
26,  1820,  the  church  sent  a  memorial. 

The  presbytery,  nevertheless,  gave  an  almost  unani- 
mous decision  in  favor  of  his  transfer  to  the  presidency 
of  the  college.  On  the  19th  of  November,  1820,  he  de- 
livered his  farewell  sermon  to  his  church.  We  select 
a  brief  passage  from  the  introduction,  and  one  near  the 
close : 

"  This  day  completes  twenty-six  years  since  you  were 
solemnly  committed,  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church, 
to  my  pastoral  care.  That  awful,  sacred  charge  I  re- 
ceived with  much  fear  and  trembling.  Yet  it  was  my 
fixed  purpose,  that,  should  my  labors  meet  your  contin- 
ued acceptance,  my  life,  to  its  latest  hour,  should  be 
devoted  to  your  service.  Revolving  years  have  but 
cemented  and  strengthened  our  mutual  affection  ;  nor, 
till  a  few  weeks  since,  did  it  appear  to  me  even  possi- 
ble that  any  thing  but  death  could  part  us. 

"  But  the  scene  is  now  changed.  Our  long  and  hap- 
py union  must  be  dissolved.  A  separation  unwelcome 
as  unanticipated,  a  separation  mutually  and  indescri- 
bably painful,  must  take  place.  .  .  .  May  God  almighty 
bless  you  with  a  pastor  far  more  worthy  of  your  love 
than  I  have  been,  and  far  more  successful  in  promoting 
your  spiritual  interests !  Long  after  this  tongue  is 
mute  in  death,  may  the  name  and  grace  of  Jesus  be 
proclaimed  from  this  desk,  to  an  assembly  of  humble 
and  pious  worshippers  ;  and  you,  and  your  children,  and 
your  children's  children,  receive  Avithin  these  walls  a 
training  for  the  immortal  temple  on  high! 


104  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE. 

"Farewell,  then,  beloved  people,  no  longer  mine; 
but  still,  and  forever,  dear  to  my  heart ;  still  to  be  cher- 
ished in  my  fondest  recollections,  and  remembered  in 
my  latest  prayers.  If,  through  boundless  mercy,  I 
should  ever  reach  the  blest  abodes,  I  shall  eagerly 
look  for  you  there.  May  mine  be  the  transport  of 
meeting  many,  many  of  you,  in  that  better  region  ;  and 
there,  where  no  tears  shall  mingle  with  our  praises,  nor 
thought  of  separation  imbitter  our  joys,  may  we  unite 
in  eternal  hallelujahs  to  our  common  Father  and  Re- 
deemer ! " 

Allusion  is  made  in  this  sermon  to  his  "  recently  im- 
paired health."  This  was  premonitory.  Scarcely  had 
he  removed  his  family  to  Hanover,  and  entered  on  his 
new  duties,  before  the  crisis  came  to  which,  doubtless 
the  wasting  cares  and  anxieties  of  preceding  years, 
and  the  recent  severe  pressure  upon  his  sensibilities,  had 
been  silently  but  inevitably  tending.  His  health  gave 
way,  and  great  depression  of  spirits  accompanied  his 
bodily  languor.  He  took  more  than  one  long  journey  in 
the  vain  effort  to  recruit  his  energies.  He  writes  to  a 
friend  of  being  "in  a  state  of  great  and  very  uncommon 
debility,  undoubtedly  to  be  attributed  to  the  protracted 
operation  of  distressing  causes,  both  on  mind  andirame." 
He  also  states,  that,  whilst  absent  from  Hanover  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  advice  of  his  physician,  he  still  hoped 
to  be  able,  after  his  strength  was  recruited,  to  accomplish 
something  in  the  matter  of  soliciting  aid  to  the  funds 
of  the  college  ;  a  work  which,  however  uncongenial 
to  his  tastes,  he  found  would  necessarily  be  devolved 
on  its  president. 

The  winter  months  passed  by,  and  there  was  still 
little  or  no  improvement  in  his  health.     When  it  be- 


DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE.  105 

came  known  that  he  was  agitating  the  question  of 
resigning  his  office,  many  urgent  requests  were  made 
to  him  not  to  decide  hastily.  He  delayed  only  till 
April,  and  then  called  a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  to  be 
held  early  in  May,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  act- 
ing upon  his  resignation  of  his  office.  He  wished  it  to 
be  considered  as  "  absolute  and  final."  The  notification 
to  a  member  of  the  Board  with  whom  he  was  specially 
intimate,  was  accompanied  by  a  letter  in  which  he 
says,  — 

"  You  will  naturally  conclude  that  the  resolution 
which  I  have  taken  has  cost  me  many  a  struggle,  and 
much  severe  distress.  This  is  the  fact.  The  last  seven 
months  have  been  with  me  a  scene  of  suffering  indeed. 
...  I  have  fondly  hoped  that  repeated  journeyings 
would  give  me  relief.  But  their  eflect  has  been  only 
partial  and  temporary.  Such  is  my  prostration  at  this 
moment,  that  the  duties  of  my  office,  and  not  less  its 
cares  and  its  responsibilities,  seem  a  burden  quite  be- 
yond my  power  of  bearing.  Had  it  pleased  God  to 
make  me  an  instrument  of  important  good  to  the  col- 
lege, I  should  have  esteemed  myself  privileged  indeed; 
but  this  privilege,  though  denied  to  me,  awaits,  I  confi- 
dently hope,  some  more  favored  instrument  of  the  divine 
benevolence.  I  earnestly  pray,  that,  in  what  pertains  to 
this  great  concern,  the  trustees  may  be  favored  with 
much  heavenly  wisdom  and  direction." 

He  now  took  a  long  journey  to  Ohio,  visiting  at 
Athens  the  brother  who  had  been  the  companion  of 
his  early  years.  Under  these  favorable  influences,  his 
health  began  more  decidedly  to  improve.  At  their 
meeting,  July  4,  the  trustees  of  the  college,  by  unani- 
mous resolution,  requested  him  to  withdraw  his  resigna- 


106  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE. 

tion  ;  but  he  declined  to  do  so,  though  "  gratefully 
acknowledging  the  kindness  expressed  in  their  commu- 
nication." He  removed  his  family  to  Ipswich,  where  he 
had  taken  a  house  for  them  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  his  father's  residence. 

Many,  years  after  these  events,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lord,  so 
long  and  so  honorably  the  President  of  Dartmouth 
College,  thus  referred  to  Dr.  Dana's  connection  with 
the  institution  :  — 

"He  was  chosen  President  for  his  well-known  excel- 
lence as  a  scholar  and  theologian,  and  his  extraordinary 
ministerial  qualifications.  He  was  honored,  the  country 
over,  in  these  respects.  It  was  not  doubted  that  he 
would  be  equally  honorable  as  President  of  the  College, 
should  his  health  endure. 

"  That  he  would  have  been,  had  he  been  able  to 
retain  his  place,  everybody  well  understood,  as  well 
from  his  auspicious  beginning,  as  his  distinguished  qual- 
ties.  He  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  College 
during  the  short  period  of  his  actual  service. 

"  But  his  sensitive  nature  had  received  a  great  shock 
in  the  breaking  up  of  his  many  and  most  endearing 
relations  at  Newburyport  and  the  country  round.  He 
began  here  with  health  seriously  impaired,  and  in  great 
depression  of  spirit.  The  change  of  scene,  of  society, 
labor,  and  responsibility,  was  too  much  for  his  disor- 
dered frame.  He  sought  relief  by  travel.  But  he 
gained  little  or  nothing,  and  was  driven  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  his  life  could  probably  be  saved  only  by  res- 
ignation. He  could  not  consent  to  make  such  an 
office  as  he  held  a  sinecure,  or  to  see  the  college  labor 
through  its  severe  adversities  without  greater  vigor  of 
administration  than   his   infirmities  admitted.      With 


DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE.  107 

great  conscientiousness  and  magnanimity,  he  chose  to 
puthimself  at  a  seeming  disadvantage,  rather  than  to  risk 
the  interests  of  the  College  upon  what  he  judged  to  be 
the  doubtful  chances  of  his  recovery. 

"  He  left  with  the  profound  respect  and  sincere  regret 
of  the  Trustees  and  Faculty.  Their  confidence  in  him 
was  unshaken ;  and  they  never  doubted,  that,  had  he 
been  more  favorable  to  himself,  and  borne  his  new  bur- 
dens with  less  solicitude,  till  he  could  regain  his  health, 
he  would  have  been  as  distinguished  here  as  elsewhere, 
and  raised  the  College  to  a  corresponding  usefulness  and 
dignity. 

"Most  men  judge  superficially  and  unwisely  in  such 
cases.  So  far  as  I  know,  the  most  competent  judges 
of  Dr.  Dana's  relations  to  Dartmouth,  see  nothing  that 
does  not  redound  to  his  honor.  It  is  understood  that 
he  accepted  the  presidency  with  great  reluctance,  on 
account  of  his  other  responsibilities  and  attachments, 
and  with  distrust  of  his  physical  ability  to  perform  its 
duties ;  that,  while  he  performed  them,  it  was  with  char- 
acteristic ability  and  effect ;  and  that,  when  his  best 
efforts  to  regain  his  health  failed,  and  he  saw  reason  to 
fear,  that,  even  if  his  life  should  not  be  a  sacrifice,  his 
increasing  infirmities  would  be  to  the  disadvantage  of  a 
struggling  institution,  he  generously,  and  entirely  of  his 
own  accord,  resigned.  To  my  apprehension,  all  this  is 
significant  of  great  moral  strength  under  the  pi'essure  of 
bodily  diseases,  and  a  memorable  instance  of  that 
Christian  heroism  for  which  he  has  always  been  remark- 
able.    '  Maluit  esse  quam  vicleri  bonus.'' " 

Great,  indeed,  to  all  human  appearance,  was  the 
"  providential  adversity,"  by  which,  in  one  short  year, 
he  was  dislodged  from  two  such  positions ;  one  by  the 


108  DARTMOUTH  COLLEGE. 

decision  of  Divine  Providence,  counteracting  his  own 
wishes  and  efforts ;  the  other,  by  the  constraint  of  his 
own  high  principles  of  honor.  But  now,  in  the  retro- 
spect, it  appears  that,  even  in  this,  the  good  hand  of 
his  God  was  upon  him.  In  the  opinion  of  one  very- 
competent  to  judge,  a  few  more  years  at  Newburyport, 
without  change  of  scene  and  such  respite  from  over- 
exertion as  he  could  not  there  be  induced  to  take, 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  fatally  undermined  his 
constitution.  His  removal  from  his  pastoral  charge, 
with  its  severe  trial  to  his  sensibilities,  did  but  precipi- 
tate a  result  perhaps  inevitable.  Nor  is  it  certain  that 
he  could,  in  any  other  position,  have  been  more  happy 
and  useful,  than  in  that  which  Divine  Providence  as- 
signed him  for  the  still  numerous  years  of  his  subse- 
quent life. 


CHAPTER   XL 

Four  Years  and  a  Half  at  Londonderry,  N.H. 

In  the  fall  of  1821,  he  was  gradually  gaining  health, 
and  had  resumed  preaching,  when  the  church  in  Lon- 
donderry, with  which  his  friend  Dr.  Morrison  had  been 
connected,  gave  him  a  call  to  become  their  pastor. 
Under  the  circumstances,  nothing  could  have  been 
more  grateful  to  his  feelings ;  nor  could  any  position 
have  been  better  suited  to  the  re-invigoration  of  his 
health.  He  recognized  the  hand  of  Providence,  and  at 
once  accepted  the  invitation.  And  now  he  seemed 
in  the  way  to  regain  something  of  that  buoyancy  of 
spirit  to  which  he  had  been  long  a  stranger. 

In  the  beginning  of  winter,  five  of  his  new  parish- 
ioners, with  their  fine  horses  and  sleighs,  came  down  to 
Ipswich  to  convey  his  family  to  Londonderry.  The 
affair  was  an  exhilarating  novelty  to  his  children ;  es- 
pecially to  one  of  them,  who  had  never  before  left  the 
sea-board,  having  spent  the  two  preceding  years  with 
his  grandfather  at  Ipswich.  The  first  view  of  those 
high  hills  and  the  valleys  between,  all  covered  with  deep 
snow,  is  even  now  fresh  in  memory.  Nor  are  the  recol- 
lections less  vivid  and  pleasant  of  the  unsophisticated 
manners  and  the  warm-hearted  hospitality  of  the 
people.  In  those  days  the  "  chimney-corner"  was  not 
a  myth ;  logs  of  wood  four  feet  in  length  were  liberally 
piled  up  in  the  capacious  fire-places ;  and  the  winter 
evening  was  a  propitious  time  for  social  festivity.     This 

10  109 


110  LONDONDERRY. 

first  introduction  to  country  life  was  rich  in  pleasure 
to  one  to  whom  the  scene  was  new,  and  who  was  at 
that  happy  age  when  the  world  seems  full  of  sunshine 
and  enjoyment. 

ISTot  long  after  the  arrival  at  Londonderry  came  the 
day  of  installation  ;  a  great  day  for  the  whole  vicin- 
age ;  for  not  only  those  interested  in  the  occasion  as  a 
religious  one,  but  a  heterogeneous  multitude  besides, 
were  congregated,  as  on  a  muster-day,  or  the  Fourth  of 
July.  But,  within  the  church,  the  services  were  listened 
to  with  the  most  profound  attention  by  a  crowded  au- 
ditory. The  sermon  was  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dana,  of 
Marblehead;  the  other  parts  of  service,  by  members  of 
the  Londonderry  Presbytery.  The  singing  had  the 
advantage  of  the  skilled  leadership  and  magnificent 
voice  of  Mr.  Hildreth,  Preceptor  of  Pinkerton  Acad- 
emy, in  the  East  Parish  village.  After  the  installation 
services,  according  to  good  old  custom,  the  elders  of 
the  church,  and  other  leading  heads  of  families,  came 
forward  to  express  their  welcome  to  the  pastor. 

The  people  were  generally  of  Scotch-Irish  descent ; 
and  they  had  faithfully  retained  the  customs  which 
their  ancestors  had  brought  from  "the  old  country." 
In  the  sacramental  service,  the  communing  members 
sat  at  tables,  and  the  whole  congregation  remained  in 
the  church.  A  fast-day  preceded,  and  a  thanksgiving- 
service  followed,  each  sacramental  season ;  and  the  prac- 
tice still  lingered  of  giving  tokens  beforehand  to  those 
entitled  to  come  to  the  communion.  Another  old  cus- 
tom there,  but  a  striking  novelty  to  strangers,  was, 
that,  at  the  close  of  service,  no  one  presumed  to  leave 
the  church  till  the  minister  had  descended  from  the  pul- 
pit, and  passed  down  the  aisle. 


L  OND  ONDERR  Y.  Ill 

He  was  now  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  many 
valued  brethren,  members  of  the  Londonderry  Presby- 
tery. Twelve  miles  distant  was  Dr.  John  H.  Church 
of  Pelham,  one  of  the  most  saintly  of  men,  between 
whom  and  himself  there  was  a  cordial  friendship.  He 
frequently  exchanged  pulpits  with  his  clerical  neighbors 
—  more  frequently,  indeed,  than  was  quite  to  the  satis- 
faction of  some  of  his  parishioners.     His  son  once  heard 

one  of  them  say,  "  If  the  Doctor  changes  with  Mr. , 

I  think  we  ought  to  have  some  boot/" 

The  cordiality  of  the  people  to  their  new  pastor  is 
alluded  to  in  one  of  his  father's  letters  (April  6,  1822)  : 

"  It  was  truly  affecting  to  learn  that  you  find  your. 
situation  'increasingly  pleasant,' the  kindness  of  your 
beloved  people  unabated,  and  new  discoveries  so  fre- 
quently made  of  '  worthy  and  amiable  friends.'  I 
expected  it,  for  I  think  you  have  the  faculty,  in  a  good 
degree,  of  making  such  discoveries.  I  mean  the  facul- 
ty of  loving  your  people,  and  in  that  way  calling  out 
whatever  is  amiable  where  you  visit.  By  this,  you 
will  not  only  gratify  yourself,  but  benefit  your  beloved 
flock  in  more  respects  than  one." 

About  that  time  a  stranger  called  on  Dr.  Dana  of 
Ipswich,  and  told  him  that  he  was  one  of  his  son's 
parishioners,  and  that  the  "people  of  Londonderry 
were  entirely  united,  and  meant  to  make  him  as  happy 
as  he  had  been  at  Newbury  port." 

There  being  no  suitable  residence  for  him  near  the 
church,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  building  a  house. 
Deacon  James  Pinkerton  (nephew  of  the  founder  of 
Pinkerton  Academy,  who  also  was  the  donor  of  liberal 
funds  to  both  parishes  of  Londonderry)  presented  him 
with  land  near  the  church  sufficient  for  a  building-lot 


112  LONDONDERRY. 

and  garden ;  and  the  people  contributed  timber,  and 
prepared  and  raised  the  frame  of  the  house.  When, 
upon  its  completion,  he  removed  to  it,  he  expressed 
to  his  family  his  thought  that  no  other  removal  awaited 
him,  except  to  "  the  house  appointed  for  all  living." 
No  more  than  others  was  he  prescient  of  the  future. 

Very  pleasant  friendships  were  formed  by  his  chil- 
dren during  this  residence  in  Londonderry.  There 
were  many  families  that  might  be  named,  with  whom 
social  intercourse  was  exceedingly  agreeable.  Where 
a  neighborhood  included  miles,  and  the  old-fashioned 
hospitality  substituted  hours  for  the  minutes  of  city 
calls,  such  intercourse  had  special  attractions,  and  lived 
long  in  recollection. 

With  the  ftimily  of  his  deceased  friend,  Dr.  Morri- 
son, his  own  were  specially  intimate.  Three  daughters 
then  lived  with  their  mother  in  the  family  mansion ; 
another,  who  was  married,  resided  in  an  adjoining  town. 
The  mother  and  two  of  the  daughters  have  long  since 
passed  away ;  the  house,  the  garden,  the  tall  trees  in 
the  avenue  to  the  road,  have  all  disappeared  ;  but  there 
was  a  charm  in  the  social  intercourse  of  that  family 
circle,  the  very  memory  of  which  awakens  a  thrill  of 
emotion. 

One  of  his  most  interesting  parishioners  was  Deacon 
Bell  (father  of  two  Governors  of  New  Hampshire), 
then  far  advanced  in  years,  but  retaining  great  vigor  of 
mind. 

What  was  then  the  West  Parish  of  Londonderry  (the 
township  has  since  been  divided)  was  nine  miles  long. 
The  pastor  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  his  new 
charge,  riding  sometimes  on  horseback  over  the  rough 
roads  and  steep  hills,  not  only  in  summer,  but   also 


LONDONDERRY.  113 

through  the  deep  snows  of  winter,  visiting  every 
part  of  his  extensive  parish.  He  sometimes  announced 
from  the  pulpit  on  Sunday,  the  district  in  which,  often 
with  an  accompanying  elder,  he  would  make  pastoral 
visits  in  the  week.  In  summer,  after  two  services  at  the 
church,  he  would  ride  three  or  four  miles  to  preach  at 
a  schoolhouse  or  private  residence.  Many  whose 
names  had  been  signed  to  the  call  to  him  to  be  their 
pastor,  were  seldom  or  never  seen  at  church.  They  had 
the  right  of  voting  for  the  minister,  whose  support  was 
mainly  furnished  from  the  parish  endowment ;  but  the 
corresponding  duty  of  attending  on  his  ministrations 
was  not,  in  their  view,  a  logical  sequence.  The  case 
of  these  caused  him  much  solicitude.  Occasionally  he 
met  a.  rough  customer  among  them ;  but  no  decent 
person  could  be  rude  to  him.  In  his  intercourse  with 
his  congregation  at  large,  he  was  quick  to  discover  and 
appreciate  that  sterling  good  sense  and  native  refine- 
ment of  feeling  and  manners,  which  are  sometimes  found 
where  there  has  been  biit  limited  opportunity  for  cul- 
ture. 

He  regularly  visited  the  district  schools,  encouraging 
the  .  teachers,  noting  the  progress  of  the  pupils,  and 
leaving  sometimes  a  Testament,  or  other  book,  as  a  re- 
ward for  specially  good  scholarship.  He  also  made  ef- 
forts to  establish  a  parish  library.  He  was  elected  a 
trustee  of  the  Pinkerton  Academy,  in  the  East  Parish 
(now  Deny).  He  presided,  and  conducted  the  annual 
examinations;  and  the  students  soon  discovered,  as 
those  of  Andover  and  Exeter  Academies  had  done 
long  before,  that  he  was  quite  at  home  in  the  classics, 
and  skilled  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  they  were 
so. 

10* 


114  L  OND  ONDEBR  Y. 

A  lady,  truly  one  of  the  loveliest  of  her  sex,  *  who 
at  this  time  had  occasional  opportunities  of  hearing  him 
from  the  pulpit,  wrote  thus  of  him  after  his  decease, 
—  from  which  her  own  was  not  long  disjoined: 

"  I  seem  to  see  him  at  this  moment  as  I  used  to  see 
him  in  the  sacred  desk,  solemn,  earnest,  and  impressive, 
as  no  one  has  ever  appeared  to  me  since.  Nor  were 
his  visits  less  interesting.  He  was  in  conversation 
equally  eloquent;  and  I  ever  thought,  after  parting 
with  him,  that  we  ought  to  be  a  great  deal  wiser  and 
better  for  seeing  him.  My  sister  Mary  Ann  and  my- 
self often  proposed  to  take  notes  of  his  remarks  ;  but  my 
intention  was  never  executed,  to  my  great  loss." 

In  one  of  his  pastoral  visits  he  found  an  aged  and  in- 
firm man,  who  appeared  singularly  unsusceptible  of  re- 
ligious impression.  Unwilling  to  leave  him  thus,  he  re- 
peated to  him  the  story  of  Death  and  the  "  three  warn- 
ings," — 

"  If  you  are  lame,  and  deaf,  and  blind, 

You've  had  your  three  sufficient  warnings,"  &c. 

At  the  time,  no  impression  seemed  to  be  made  upon 
the  aged  man ;  yet,  after  his  death,  there  was  found  a 
record  by  himself,  that  this  story  was  the  first  thing 
which  effectually  awakened  his  attention  to  his  spiritual 
state. 

It  was  his  custom  to  sow  good  seed  everywhere, 
whether  the  soil  was  genial  or  not.  On  one  occasion 
he  entered  the  abode  of  a  noted  termagant  —  one  who 
feared  hot  God  nor  regarded  man.  To  his  religious 
appeals  she  responded  by  avowing  herself  a  Universal- 

*  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Robert  McGaw,  Esq.,  of  Merrimack,  and 
daughter  of  Rev.  William  Morrison,  D.D.,  of  Londonderry,  N.H. 


LONDONDERRY.  115 

ist.  He  counselled  her  "  not  to  drink  poison  because 
it  was  sweet." — "I'll  drink  just  as  muck  as  I've  a  mind 
to,"  was  the  reply.  Universalism,  it  would  seem,  was 
not  the  only  poison  which  she  imbibed. 

At  this  time,  the  temperance  reformation  had  not 
dawned  :  old  customs  were  in  full  vigor  at  London- 
derry. The  free  use  of  ardent  spirits  was  thought  a 
needful  part  of  hospitality:  they  were  liberally  supplied 
at  funerals.  In  the  house  nearest  the  church,  a  bar  was 
kept,  and  spirituous  liquors  sold  on  Sunday,  during  the 
interval  between  morning  and  afternoon  services. 

The  distress  of  the  pastor,  when  these  and  similar 
facts  became  known  to  him,  was  aggravated  by  his  find- 
ing that  there  was  need  of  a  temperance  reformation 
even,  to  some  extent,  within  the  church.  He  gave 
himself  no  rest  until,  single-handed,  he  had  exhausted 
every  effort  to  bring  about  a  better  state  of  things. 
Good  men,  at  that  time,  did  not  fully  sympathize  with 
him  as  to  the  evil  of  that  free  use  of  stimulants  which 
had  the  sanction  of  wide-spread  and  traditionary  cus- 
tom. Moreover,  church  discipline  had  fallen  into  des- 
uetude. One  of  his  best  elders  thought  that  the  tares 
•should  be  permitted  to  grow  with  the  wheat.  All  his 
life  he  had  been  accustomed  to  a  very  high  standard  in 
respect  to  qualifications  for  church-membership.  His 
church  at  Newburyport  had  been,  from  its  origin, 
almost  ultra-puritan  in  its  principles  as  to  receiving  ac- 
cessions to  the  communion  ;  whilst,  at  Londonderry,  the 
practice  in  this  respect  had  naturally  been  more  con- 
trolled by  the  principles  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

His  father  writes  him,  April  30,  1823,  "I  hope  you 
will  be  shown  the  true  medium  between  remissness, 
and  wearing  yourself  out  too  fist.    To  the  latter  you  are 


116  L  OND  ONDERR  Y. 

perhaps,  in  some  degree,  inclinable.  I  hope,  too,  that 
yon  will  be  preserved  from  despondency  in  regard  to 
their  moral  state.  ,  Whether,  in  the  contemplation  of 
reforms,  it  may  not  be  necessary  to  remember,  with  re- 
ference to  them,  our  Lord's  parables  of  the  new  cloth 
and  new  bottles,  you,  I  hope,  will  be  graciously  di- 
rected." 

By  appointment  of  the  Governor,  he  delivered,  in 
June,  1823,  the  Election  Sermon,  before  the  Legislature 
of  New  Hampshire.  From  this  we  subjoin  a  passage 
of  some  length  at  the  commencement,  and  one  more 
brief  near  the  close. 

"Respected  Friends  and  Fellow-Citizens, — 

"We  meet,  this  day,  on  an  occasion  of  more  than 
usual  interest.  We  visit  the  temple  of  the  Most  High, 
to  acknowledge  his  all-governing  providence,  to  invoke 
his  blessing  on  our  State,  to  commit  to  his  mercy  the 
selected  guardians  of  its  interests,  and  to  search  his 
oracles  for  those  great  principles  and  maxims  which 
should  guide  all  our  public  measures. 

"  The  grand  design  of  the  sacred  volume  is  to  form 
citizens  of  a  heavenly  community.  Yet,  while  it  dis- 
closes to  us  a  world  of  immortal  purity  and  joy,  and 
points  the  path  by  which  that  world  may  be  reached, 
it  sheds  the  kindest  influence  on  our  present  condition. 
It  opens  the  only  sources  of  individual  comfort ;  it  re- 
fines and  elevates  all  our  domestic  and  social  enjoy- 
ments ;  and  it  furnishes  the  lessons  by  which  nations 
may  become  great,  wise,  and  happy. 

"  In  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  the  Proverbs,  and 
the  thirty-fourth  verse,  the  wisest  of  monarchs  and 
of  men    has    recorded    a    maxim    of  unrivalled    sim- 


LONDONDERRY.  117 

plicity  and  beauty  —  a  maxim  in  which  a  people  and 
their  rulers  have  an  equal  interest,  and  which  merits 
to  be  engraven  on  the  hearts  of  both. 

"  RIGHTEOUSNESS    EXALTETH   A    NATION." 

"  In  analyzing  this  inspired  sentence,  let  us  first  as- 
certain the  nature  of  that  righteousness  which  it  recom- 
mends ;  and  then  trace  some  of  its  numberless  connec- 
tions with  the  true  glory  and  happiness  of  a  people. 

"  The  term  righteousness  is  sometimes  employed 
with  reference  to  the  moral  and  social  duties,  considered 
as  distinct  from  those  of  piety.  Indeed,  these  duties 
are  viewed  by  some  as  occupying  the  whole  round  of 
human  obligation.  To  discharge  these  duties,  and  fill 
up  with  decorum  the  social  relations,  constitutes,  in 
their  view,  the  sum  and  the  perfection  of  human  good- 
ness. The  opinion  would  be  correct  did  man  sustain 
no  relation  except  to  his  fellow-man.  But  can  this 
be,  for  a  moment,  admitted  ?  Has  he  nothing  to  do 
with  the  Author  of  his  existence  ?  Does  he  sustain  no 
relations,  does  he  owe  no  duties,  to  his  Creator,  his 
Benefactor,  and  his  final  Judge  ?  Unquestionably, 
these  are  his  most  momentous  relations,  and  these  his 
first  duties. 

"Righteousness,  then,  is  more  than  mere  morality. 
It  implies  a  supreme  regard  to  the  Supreme  of  beings. 
It  includes  submission  to  his  authority,  resignation  to 
his  providence,  gratitude  for  his  goodness.  In  a  word, 
it  implies  the  entire  self-devotion  of  the  creature  to  his 
Creator  and  Sovereign,  with  an  unremitting  solicitude 
to  obey  his  will,  and  approve  himself  to  his  eye.  For 
who  does  not  see  that  this  is  a  tribute  most  rational, 
most  indispensable  ? 


118  L  OND  ONDEBR  Y. 

"  Thus  far  we  proceed  with  confidence,  under  the 
direction  of  reason.  But  here  our  guide  forsakes  us. 
How  shall  a  creature,  though  loyal  and  innocent,  dis- 
cover, without  a  revelation,  what  are  the  particulars  of 
that  obedience  which  his  Sovereign  demands,  and  will 
accept  ?.  If  he  be  fallen  (and  who  can  deny  that  man  is 
this  fallen  creature?),  inquiries  of  still  more  distressing 
interest  arise.  Is  it  possible  that  he  should  be  restored? 
Is  it  possible  that  he  should  render  to  his  Sovereign  an 
acceptable  obedience  ?  If  so,  what  must  be  the  character 
of  that  obedience,  and  what  its  form  ? 

"To  these  questions,  which  awakened  nature  can 
ask,  but  cannot  answer,  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  alone, 
furnishes  an  explicit  and  satisfying  reply.  It  reveals  a 
scheme  of  mercy,  a  mediator,  an  atonement,  pardon 
for  the  guilty,  restoration  for  the  apostate  and  lost. 
As  connected  with  this  system  of  mercy,  and  as  grow- 
ing directly  out  of  it,  there  is  revealed  in  the  Bible  a 
rule  of  human  conduct  —  a  rule  which,  while  it  re- 
cognizes and  confirms  all  our  original  obligations, 
superadds  others  which  are  new ;  carries  all  piety  and 
all  virtue  to  a  far  sublimer  height ;  and,  while  it  raises 
this  lofty  superstructure,  furnishes,  in  the  peculiar  mo- 
tives of  the  gospel,  a  foundation  broad  and  deep  enough 
to  support  it. 

"  That  the  virtue  enjoined  in  the  Scriptures  is  really 
of  this  novel  and  superior  cast,  may  be  proved  by  ad- 
ducing a  single  instance.  A  right  treatment  of  our 
enemies  is,  upon  all  natural  principles,  a  perplexing 
problem,  even  in  theory.  And  surely,  none  will  deny, 
that,  to  the  mind  unenlightened  and  uncontrolled  by 
the  gospel,  it  must  be  the  hardest  of  all  duties  in  prac- 
tice.    The  great  Roman  orator  has  made  the  discovery 


L  OXD  ONDEBR  Y.  119 

"  that  we  ought  to  hurt  no  man,  except  first  provoked  by 
an  injury."  One  of  the  sages  of  ancient  Greece,  speak- 
ing somewhat  more  explicitly,  has  enjoined  us  to  "be 
kind  to  our  friends,  and  revenge  ourselves  on  our  ene- 
mies." The  maxim  of  the  gospel  is,  "  Love  your  ene- 
mies." For  the  greatest  of  injuries,  it  prescribes,  it  ad- 
mits, no  return  but  blessings  and  kind  offices.  On 
mere  natural  principles,  these  may  appear  hard sayings  j 
but  considered  as  the  injunctions  of  that  God  Avho 
loved  us  when  we  were  enemies,  of  that  Saviour  who 
poured  his  blood  for  our  pardon,  they  appear  stamped 
with  infinite  reason  and  propriety.  By  the  Christian, 
they  must  be  regarded  as  the  first  of  duties ;  most  im- 
perious in  their  obligation,  most  delightful  in  their  per- 
formance. 

"While,  then,  righteousness  implies  a  supreme  affec- 
tion and  respect  to  God  —  the  best  and  greatest  of  be- 
ings, the  rightful  Legislator  of  the  universe — it  implies  a 
submission  of  the  understanding  and  heart  to  his  word, 
that  light  shining  in  a  dark  place  ;  that  only  infallible, 
perfect,  unchanging  standard  of  human  duty.  It  im- 
plies a  regard  to  the  law  of  God  and  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  as  our  rule  of  conduct ;  to  the  spirit  and  life 
of  the  great  Redeemer,  as  our  example ;  and  to  the 
divine  glory,  as  our  last  end. 

"  This  is  righteousness.  This  constitutes  the  whole 
moral  worth,  the  genuine  excellence,  of  human  beings ; 
it  comprises  whatever  is  amiable,  dignified,  and  happy 
in  individual  man ;  and  it  promotes,  in  ways  far  more 
numerous  than  can  be  specified,  the  glory  and  felicity 
of  a  people. 

"  Righteousness,  so  far  as  it  prevails,  secures  to  a 
community  the  inestimable  blessing  of  conscientious 


120  LONDONDERRY. 

and  faithful  Rulers.  Among  a  free  and  virtuous  peo- 
ple, none  but  men  of  this  character  will  ordinarily  be 
raised  to  office.  The  electors,  acting  in  the  fear  of 
God,  will  bestow  their  suffrages  on  those  whom  God 
will  approve.  Uninfluenced  by  that  rancorous  spirit 
of  party  which  confounds  and  annihilates  moral  dis- 
tinctions ;  insensible  to  the  claims  of  the  ambitious, 
the  obtrusive  and  unprincipled,  they  will  turn  their 
eyes  to  the  faithful  of  the  land.  Regarding  the  pub- 
lic interests  as  their  own,  they  cannot  fail  to  commit 
those  interests  to  men  of  substantial  worth,  and  ap- 
proved virtue.  Thus,  in  the  managers  of  its  great 
concerns,  a  State  has  the  happiness  of  beholding  those 
who  will  refine  its  sentiments,  and  elevate  the  tone  of 
its  morals.  Thus  the  homage  naturally  paid  to  men 
in  high  stations,  becomes  the  tribute  of  the  heart ;  a 
tribute,  not  more  consoling  to  the  virtuous  ruler,  than 
medicinal  to  the  taste  and  manners  of  the  community. 
"  But  the  direct  influence  of  genuine  virtue  on  the 
character  and  conduct  of  rulers,  claims  a  distinct  con- 
sideration. It  is  granted,  that,  in  ordinary  cases,  per- 
sonal interest,  regard  to  reputation,  and  even  love  of 
place,  may  restrain  public  men  from  gross  deviations. 
But  is  it  always  thus?  Do  no  occasions  arise,  on 
which  private  interest  and  the  public  good  come  in 
direct  competition?  None  on  which  a  small  injustice 
promises  a  great  present  advantage  ?  None  on  which 
the  straight-forward  course  of  integrity  must  be  pur- 
sued, if  pursued  at  all,  at  the  imminent  hazard,  per- 
haps to  the  certain  loss,  of  popularity  and  place  ?  These 
are  the  occasions  which  emphatically  "  try  men's  souls," 
and  bring  their  principles  to  the  test.  These  are  the 
occasions  which  expose  the  littleness  and  inconsistency 


LONDONDERRY.  121 

of  ordinary  virtue;  while  they  display  the  beauty  and 
majesty  of  that  virtue  which  springs  from  piety.  To 
the  good  magistrate,  the  presence  of  an  observing  God 
is  more  impressive  than  a  universe  of  spectators ;  and 
the  testimony  of  an  approving  conscience,  more  pre- 
cious than  all  worldly  riches  and  honors. 

"  Some  politicians,  and  even  some  political  writers, 
have  maintained  that  virtue,  though  salutary  to  indi- 
viduals, is  frequently  inconvenient  to  States ;  that  the 
maxims  of  morality  must  often  bend  to  public  necessity 
or  expediency ;  in  short,  that  what  is  morally  wrong 
may  be  politically  right.  Such  sentiments  as  these 
deserve  the  severest  brand  of  reprobation.  They  are 
an  insult  to  the  Majesty  of  heaven  ;  a  libel  on  the 
moral  government  of  God ;  an  arrogant  pretence  of 
weak  and  erring  mortals  to  re-judge  his  judgment,  to 
repeal  his  laws,  to  supply  defects  in  his  wisdom,  and 
to  mend  the  order  of  his  universe.  Nor  is  the  good 
sense  of  these  maxims  less  questionable  than  their 
piety.  Every  attempt  to  press  them  into  the  service 
of  mankind,  has  proved  wretchedly  inefficient  and  abor- 
tive. No  individual,  high  or  low ;  no  community, 
great  or  small ;  no  government,  monarchical  or  repub- 
lican, was  ever  yet  a  gainer  by  trampling  on  the 
sacred  laws  of  Heaven.  Nor,  till  the  throne  of  God  is 
subverted,  will  such  an  event  ever  arise. 

"  What  a  delightful  contrast  to  this  perverse  and  ser- 
pentine policy  is  exhibited  in  the  character  of  our 
Washington.  In  that  mind,  so  keen  in  its  sagacity, 
so  extensive  in  its  surveys,  so  rich  in  its  resources,  so 
profound  in  its  wisdom,  who  ever  detected  a  single  par- 
ticle  of  cunning  ?     Among  all  his  great  qualities,  his 

singular  endowments  of  intellect  and  heart,  nothing 
11 


122  L  OND  ONDERR  Y. 

was  more  conspicuous  than  a  noble  simplicity,  a  kind 
of  crystalline  purity  of  character.  It  was  this  which 
exalted  him  so  far  above  the  level  of  the  vulgar  great.- 
This  placed  him  alone  among  the  politicians  of  the 
world.  This  rendered  him  the  ornament,  as  well  as 
the  saviour,  of  his  country,  and  the  wonder  of  his  age. 
This  exhibits  him  as  a  model  for  imitation  to  the  rulers 
of  every  country,  and  of  every  age. 

"  But  neither  the  purest  motives,  nor  the  most  patri- 
otic conduct,  will  uniformly  secure  general  approbation. 
Often  has  the  conscientious  ruler  found  his  best  inten- 
tions misrepresented,  his  most  upright  measures  vilified, 
and  perhaps  a  long  series  of  faithful  jmblic  services 
recompensed  with  neglect,  or  with  calumny.  Indeed, 
such  is  the  perverseness  of  human  nature  ;  such  the 
fickleness  of  the  multitude ;  such,  proverbially,  the  in- 
gratitude of  republics,  that  the  man  who  is  wholly 
unprepared  for  rewards  of  this  species,  will  do  wisely 
to  remain  in  the  shade.  And  where,  it  may  be  asked, 
is  he  who  would  act  a  different  part  ?  Where  is  the 
man  who,  pained  in  the  prospect,  or  smarting  under 
the  infliction,  of  public  reproach,  will  consent  to  wear 
away  life  in  promoting  the  public  good?  Where  are 
the  motives  to  such  rare  and  disinterested  virtue  ?  The 
answer  is  at  hand :  there  are  no  motives  adequate  to 
sustain  a  virtue  like  this,  but  those  supplied  by  religion. 
In  vain  do  we  look  for  a  character  so  exalted,  unless  it 
be  modelled  on  the  Scriptures.  Bat  the  man  who  has 
been  taught  in  this  school ;  the  man  who  has  learned 
of  Him  who  spent  his  life  in  overcoming  evil  with  good, 
and  who  shed  his  blood  for  an  insensible  and  thankless 
world ;  the  man  who  seeks  his  chief  reward,  not  in  the 
applause  of  the  multitude,  but  in  the  approbation  of  his 


L  OND  ONDERR  Y.  1 23 

conscience  and  his  God —  such  a  man  may,  without  a 
miracle,  be  a  patriot,  even  in  the  worst  of  times. 

.  ..."  If,  respected  Legislators,  it  is  righteousness 
which  exalts  a  nation'  and  if  sin  is  reproachful  and 
ruinous  to  any  people,  it  is  then  in  your  power,  by 
efficiently  promoting  the  one,  and  discountenancing  the 
other,  to  become  public  blessings-  and  benefactors. 
Permit  me  to  add,  that  this  is  demanded  of  you  by 
your  stations,  by  your  oaths,  by  the  honor  and  confi- 
dence bestowed  on  you,  and  by  the  influence  you  pos- 
sess. It  is  the  just  expectation  of  heaven  and  earth 
concerning  you. 

"While  we  bless  God  for  the  fair  inheritance  of  civil 
and  religious  freedom  left  us  by  our  fathers,  while  Ave 
exult  in  their  illustrious  example,  we  contemplate,  with 
pain  and  grief,  many  fatal  symptoms  of  general  degen- 
eracy. In  this  region,  once  the  hallowed  abode  of 
piety  and  virtue,  the  God  of  heaven  is  dishonored  and 
provoked,  his  sacred  name  is  blasphemed,  his  authority 
contemned,  his  sabbaths  awfully  and  increasingly  pro- 
faned. While  vices  of  various  forms  stalk  through  the 
community,  in  defiance  of  fear  and  shame, "owe  vice, 
Avhose  name  is  Legion,  spurns  all  restraint ;  tramples 
on  all  laws,  human  and  divine  ;  and  devours,  with  un- 
sated  appetite,  no  small  portion  of  the  wealth  and 
morals,  of  the  lives  and  souls  of  the  people. 

"Do  not  evils  of  this  magnitude  challenge  your  atten- 
tion and  investigation  ?  If  the  laws  are  defective,  are 
you  not  bound  to  supply  their  defects?  If,  while  the 
sons  of  vice  are  bold,  the  friends  of  order  are  feeble  and 
timid;  if,  instead  of  magistrates  being  a  terror  to  evil- 
doers, evil-doers  are  a  terror  to  magistrates,  —  are  you 
not  bound,  as  Guardians  and  Fathers  of  the  State,  to  ap- 


124  L  OND  ONDEER  Y. 

ply  a  corrective  ?  Especially,  are  you  not  bound,  when 
returning  to  the  more  private  walks  of  life,  to  surround 
the  laws  you  have  made  with  the  attractive  charm  of 
your  example/  to  throw  all  the  weight  of  your  talents, 
your  exertions,  your  influence,  and,  let  me  add,  your 
prayers,  into  the  scale  of  good  order,  good  morals,  and 
pure  religion  ? 

"  Indulge  me,  respected  Legislators,  in  this  freedom. 
I  would  violate  no  principle  of  decorum.  But  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel,  who  could  view  the  evils  described 
without  an  aching  and  a  bleeding  heart,  would  be  un- 
worthy his  office.  Nor  could  he  be  faithful  to  his  most 
solemn  vows,  if,  when  permitted  to  address  those  who, 
under  God,  possess  the  remedy,  he  should  pass  the 
subject  in  silence. 

"Suffer  me  to  remark  further,  that  the  high  and 
sacred  interests  of  education  prefer  imperious  claims  to 
your  paternal  attention  and  care.  If,  on  accurate  in- 
vestigation, you  should  be  fully  convinced  that  the 
system  of  instruction  in  our  primary  schools  —  the  only 
scenes  of  education  for  the  great  mass  of  our  youth  — 
admits  and  requires  great  and  essential  improvements, 
your  faithful  exertions  will,  we  doubt  not,  correspond 
with  your  convictions;  and  may  it  not  be  hoped 
from  the  wisdom  and  magnanimity  of  the  Legislature, 
that  it  will  cast  a  favoring  eye  upon  the  principal 
seat  of  learning  in  our  State  ?  The  auspicious  in- 
fluence of  this  Seminary  on  the  literature  and  religion 
of  our  country,  has  long  been  felt  and  acknowledged. 
Your  kind  and  fostering  patronage  would  render  this 
influence  still  more  salutary  and  extensive." 

His  father  writes,  June  13,  1823,  "You  were  kindly 
received  ;  and  there  is  ground  to  hope  that  the  hints 


L  0  2?D  ONDERR  Y.  125 

given  relative  to  the  religious  interests  of  the  State, 
so  candidly  received,  may  be  profitable,  not  only  there, 
but  elsewhere.  I  rejoice  that  your  Governor  is  so 
respectable.  I  am  specially  glad  that  he  so  remem- 
bers the  college.  Your  interviews  with  President 
Tyler,  and  your  good  opinion  of  him,  must  have  been 
pleasant  to  you  ;  and  they  give  me  pleasure. 

"  That  '  trembling  hope  '  you  mention,  respecting  a 
number  of  your  people,  may  He  who  is  rich  in  mercy 
ripen  into  great  rejoicing !  You  will,  I  think,  be  happily 
directed,  and  see  in  the  issue,  precious  fruit  of  your 
anxieties  and  labors. 

"  It  had  occurred  to  me,  that  you  must  feel  very 
sensibly  the  loss  of  Mrs.  Phillips,  and  of  Mr.  John 
Phillips,  whom  long  acquaintance  must  have  endeared 
to  you.  The  public  loss  in  the  latter  is  extensive1,) 
lamented." 

In  these  years,  as  in  many  subsequent  ones,  the 
interests  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover 
occupied  a  large  place  in  his  thoughts.  Dr.  Porter 
writes  him  as  follows  :  — 

"  Asdover,  Oct.  18,  1821. 

"  My  dear  Sir,  —  I  presume  you  feel  the  impor- 
tance of  the  business  on  which  you  are  to  act  as  com- 
mittee,  and  report  to  the  trustees  next  Tuesday.  But 
recent  circumstances  show  it  to  be  more  important 
than  any  of  us  had  apprehended,  that  the  thing  be 
finished  in  some  way  soon.  Our  good  fathers  at  New- 
buryport  are  distressed.  On  Monday,  I  attended  there 
the  funeral  of  dear  Betsey  Bartlet,  and  saw  Father 
B.  He  enquired  anxiously,  '  Will  Dr.  Dana  be  at 
Andover  next  week  ?'  Mr.  Bannister  came  in  to  show 
Mr.  B.  a  letter  which  Mr.  Brown  had  dictated  to  the 
n* 


1  % 6  LOND  ONDERE  Y. 

Trustees,  and  another  to  Dr.  M.,  expressing  his  full 
conviction,  that  Dr.  M.'s  resignation  should  be  accepted, 
and  that  he  ought  not  to  think  of  staying  in  any  de- 
partment. I  just  hint  things  to  show  you  why  your 
presence  here  next  Monday,  as  early  as  you  can  come, 
is  indispensable.  If  you  must  go  into  a  division  of 
duties  in  the  present  untoward  posture  of  affairs,  it 
will  be  a  severe  tax  on  your  wisdom  and  patience. 
"  Affectionately  yours, 

"  E.  Porter. 
"Do  come  seasonably" 

In  1824,  he  delivered,  by  appointment,  the  annual 
sermon,  before  the  Convention  of  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  Ministers  of  New  Hampshire.  His  subject 
was  the  Atonement.  This  sermon  created  some  stir  in 
the  theological  world.  The  reason  of  this  will  appear 
from  the  following  passages,  bearing  on  a  theory 
which  was  then  attracting  much  attention  in  New 
England  :  — 

"  If  what  has  been  advanced  on  this  great  subject 
be  true,  it  directly  follows  that  every  system  of  re- 
ligion which  denies  the  atonement,  must  be  radically 
defective  and  erroneous.  It  equally  follows,  that  every 
system  of  atonement  which  omits  or  rejects  the  great 
principle  of  substitution  must  be,  at  least,  extremely 
questionable. 

A  scheme  which  represents  the  atonement  as  an  ex- 
hibition, or  display  ;  a  symbolical  transaction  merely ; 
which  rejects  or  omits  the  Saviour's  substitution  ;  which 
denies  that  his  sufferings  were  vicarious  /  and  of  course 
denies  that  they  constituted  a  p)°oper  satisfaction  for 
the  sins  of  men  —  such  a  scheme  is  new  to  most  Chris- 


L  ONB  ONDERR  Y.  127 

tians,  and  needs  to  be  well  examined  before  it  is  em- 
braced. 

"  It  is  a  serious  question  whether  the  theory  in  view 
does  not  comprise  a  virtual  denial  of  the  atonement 
itself.  It  leaves  us  the  name ;  but  what  does  it  leave 
of  the  reality?  An  exhibition  is  not  an  atonement. 
A  display  is  not  an  atonement.  A  mere  symbolical 
transaction  is  not  an  atonement.  To  employ  either  of 
these  terms  in  such  a  sense,  is  a  catachresis  of  the 
harshest  kind.  If,  as  we  have  seen,  the  principles  of 
substitution,  of  vicarious  suffering,  and  a  proper  satis- 
faction to  the  violated  law  and  justice  of  God  are  all 
essential  to  constitute  the  nature  of  atonement  for  sin  ; 
does  it  not  follow,  of  course,  that  a  theory  of  atone- 
ment which  rejects  these  principles,  virtually  abandons 
the  doctrine  it  professes  to  maintain? 

"But,  it  is  asked,  If  Christ  was  a  substitute,  for 
whom  was  he  substituted  ?  If  he  made  a  proj)er  satis- 
faction for  sin,  did  he  satisfy  for  the  sins  of  all,  or  of  a 
part  only  ?  From  some  real  difficulties  attending  these 
questions,  occasion  has  apparently  been  taken  to  deny 
both  his  substitution  and  his  satisfaction  altogether. 
But  surely,  my  hearers,  this  is  a  most  dangerous  prin- 
ciple. Would  it  not  lead  us  to  discard  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  revealed  truth?  If  the  Bible  contains  doctrines 
hard  to  be  understood,  and  even  apparently  at  variance 
with  each  other,  should  we  not  still  receive  them  with 
implicit  assent,  humbly  waiting  for  that  world  of  supe- 
rior light,  in  which  they  will  blaze  upon  the  mind  in 
all  their  lustre,  and  in  all  their  harmony? 

"  Much  difficulty  would  at  once  vanish  from  the  sub- 
ject, should  we  consider  the  atonement,  rather  in  refer- 
ence  to   the    law  and  justice  of  God,    than    to  the 


128  LOND  ON  DEER  Y. 

numbers  of  mankind  to  be  finally  saved  by  it.  And 
this  is  the  proper  mode  of  considering  it.  So  far  as 
we  can  perceive,  all  that  the  Saviour  has  rendered,  of 
obedience  and  suffering,  must  have  been  rendered, 
though  but  a  single  sinner  of  the  human  family  were 
to  have  been  saved.  Nor  have  we  reason  to  doubt, 
that,  had  it  pleased  the  Supreme  Being  to  save  the 
whole  human  race,  what  Christ  has  done  and  suffered 
would  have  been  amply  sufficient  for  the  end.  If  these 
principles  be  admitted,  the  atonement  may  be  con- 
sidered without  respect  to  numbers.  It  may  be  viewed 
as  a  kind  provision  of  the  Father  of  mercies  for  his 
perishing  human  family  ;  as  opening  the  door  of  mer- 
cy and  of  hope  to  a  dying  world. 

"  If  the  question  still  recur,  For  whom  did  Christ 
die  as  a  substitute  ?  —  we  reply,  that,  whatever  difficul- 
ties meet  us  here,  some  things  are  perfectly  plain. 
That  he  died  for  all  the  elect  none  will  deny.  Nor 
can  it  be  doubted  that  his  death  had  a  special  refer- 
ence to  them.  At  the  same  time,  we  have  an  equal 
warrant  to  affirm  that  he  died  for  all  that  should  be- 
lieve on  his  name,  to  the  end  of  time.  Nor  need  we 
hesitate  to  add,  that  such  is  the  effect  of  his  interven- 
tion and  death,  that  a  free  and  sincere  offer  of  mercy 
is  made,  wherever  the  gospel  comes,  to  every  sinner 
that  breathes  the  air.  If  any  perish  now,  they  perish 
by  closing  on  themselves  the  door  of  hope,  which 
Heaven  has  opened.  They  perish,  not  because  no 
Saviour,  no  atonement,  has  been  provided,  but  because 
the  Saviour  and  his  atonement  are  rejected.  .  .  . 

"My  respected  hearers,  it  is  with  heart-felt  reluc- 
tance and  pain  that  I  have  mingled  so  much  of  contro- 
versy in  the  discussion   of  the  subject  of  the    atone- 


L  OYD  ONDERR  Y.  129 

ment;  a  subject  never  designed,  suvely,  to  perplex  our 
minds  with  the  subtleties  of  debate,  but  rather  to 
overwhelm  every  human  heart  with  a  tide  of  grateful 
admiration  and  love.  But  an  imperious  sense  of  duty 
lias  constrained  me.  Should  I  have  increased  the  dark- 
ness in  which  the  subject  has  been  involved,  I  should 
be  unhappy  indeed ;  nor  less  unhappy,  to  have  in- 
fringed on  the  sacred  principles  of  Christian  meekness 
and  decorum.  My  simple  wish  has  been  to  bear  testi- 
mony to  a  doctrine  which  I  verily  believe  to  be  the 
article  of  a  standing  or  falling  church  /  the  article  of 
a  standing  or  falling  religion.  And  were  this  the  last 
act  of  my  life,  I  should  wish  it  to  be  substantially  the 
same.  My  humble  attempt  I  submit  to  the  candid 
judgment  of  my  hearers ;  especially  of  my  brethren 
in  the  holy  ministry ;  but,  most  of  all,  to  the  patronage 
and  blessing  of  our  common  and  glorious  Lord." 

This  sermon  gave  great  satisfaction  to  one  class  of 
theologians  —  and  very  little  to  another.  Its  views  were 
ably  sustained  by  the  Philadelphia  "  Christian  Advo- 
cate." A  notice  of  it,  deemed  specially  unfair,  appeared 
in  the  New-Haven  "  Christian  Spectator."  It  is  to  this 
that  Dr.  Porter  refers  in  the  following  letter.  Contrary 
to  his  supposition,  however,  the  secret  transpired,  that 
the  article  in  question  had  originated,  not  at  New  Ha- 
ven, but  with  a  coterie  of  students  (or,  perhaps,  recent 
graduates)  of  the  Andover  Seminary. 

"Andover,  Feb.  7,  1S25. 
"My  dear  Sir, —  Some  weeks  since,  I  wrote  to 
Pres.  Day  and  Prof.  Goodrich  that  I  was  much  dis- 
turbed by  the  manner  in  which  the  '  Spectator '  had 
treated  yoxi ;  and  that  my  first  impressions  on  reading 
their  notice  of  your  letter,  was  that  I  could  not  con- 


130  LOND  ONDERB  Y. 

tinue  my  patronage  of  the  work.  I  assured  them, 
however,  though  I  did  not  resolve  on  this  course,  that, 
in  my  opinion,  they  were  ruining  the  magazine  in 
this  quarter,  if  they  had  not  already  done  it.  This 
state  of  my  own  mind  I  had  no  intention  of  stating  to 
you,  till  my  thoughts  this  evening  incidentally  turned 
to  our  relations  with  you,  and  the  propriety  of  your 
knowing  in  what  manner  I  had  regarded  that  flippant 
and  puerile  performance. 

"  I  am  especially  desirous,  for  public  reasons  as  well 
as  my  own  gratification,  that  you  should  preach  a  Sab- 
bath in  our  chapel.  I  am  winter-bound,  and  we  are  all 
out  of  question  as  to  exchange,  except  Brother  Woods. 
But  we  could  certainly  send  a  good  preacher  to  your 
pulpit,  such,  say,  as  Mr.  Hallock,  if  none  of  us  could 
come.  I  want  to  see  you  an  evening,  or  rather  a  whole 
Sabbath.     Please  drop  me  a  line. 

"  Yours  ever, 

"E.  Porter." 

Half  a  year  before  this,  Dr.  Woods  had  thus  written 
him :  — 

"  Dr.  Richards  and  Dr.  Hill  of  Virginia,  have  lately 
been  to  see  us.  Dr.  Hill  has  been  an  ardent  friend  to 
our  institution,  but  was  near  being  alienated  by  Dr.  Mur- 
doch's sermon.  He  came  on  purpose  to  get  his  mind  re- 
lieved as  to  the  state  of  the  Seminary,  which  was  the 
subject  of  his  chief  solicitude.  He  went  away  with 
gladness  of  heart,  all  his  apprehensions  as  to  a  general 
danger  of  the  Institution  having  been  remove  1. 

"Dr.  Porter  gave  him  your  sermon.  He  said  he 
could  not  express  the  pleasure  he  had  in  seeing  such  a 
sermon  from  a  Trustee  of  our  Seminary." 


L  OXD  OXDEBU  7.  131 

The  next  year, he  delivered  a  discourse  before  the  New- 
Hampshire  Colonization  Society,  which  was  also  printed. 

During  his  residence  at  Londonderry,  the  visit  of 
Lafayette  to  this  country  occurred.  He  was  appointed 
to  deliver  an  address  of  welcome.  This,  with  a  con- 
sideration not  always  shown  for  the  comfort  of  the 
"Nation's  Guest,"  he  pre-determined  should  be  very 
brief.  The  occasion  happily  recalled  to  him  the  visit 
of  Washington  to  New  England,  when  his  father  had 
officiated  as  chaplain  at  the  collation  at  Ipswich  —  as  he 
did  now  at  the  dinner  at  Londonderry. 

In  the  winter  of  1825-6,  when  he  had  become  much 
discouraged  and  disheartened,  seeing  but  little  fruit  of 
his  labors,  an  overture  was  made  to  him  to  remove  to 
Portsmouth,  and  take  charge  of  a  church  to  be  consti- 
tuted there.  This  he  declined.  Soon  after,  informa- 
tion reached  him  that  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Newburyport  was  about  to  give  him  an  invitation  to 
become  their  pastor.  It  seemed  the  voice  of  Provi- 
dence, recalling  him  to  a  more  hopeful  field  of  labor, 
and  to  the  endeared  associations  of  a  large  portion  of 
his  life.  The  following  letter  from  a  highly  valued  rel- 
ative, conveyed  to  him  the  first  intimation  of  what  was 
in  prospect. 

"  Newburypokt,  Feb.  11,  1826. 

..."  I  have  been  informed,  from  good  authority, 
that  it  is  the  intention  of  the  Society  where  Mr.  Ford 
was  settled,  to  invite  you  to  become  their  pastor ;  Mr. 
Ford  having  given  notice  that  he  shall  leave  in  April. 
Be  assured,  my  clear  brother,  we  should  esteem  it  a 
great  privilege  to  have  you  so  near  us;  it  would  rejoice 
many  of  your  old  parishioners  to  have  you  so  near  us, 
even  to  hear  you  occasionally,  probably  some  of  them 


132  LONDONDERRY. 

statedly.  Capt.  Wills  this  clay  informed  me  he  should 
become  one  of  the  number.  I  cannot  but  hope  you 
will  again  be  located  among  us.  It  will  not  be  exactly 
like  returning  to  the  House  and  people  endeared  to  you 
by  many  pleasant  associations,  but  you  will  see  the 
faces  of  many  who  attended  on  your  ministrations  with 
pleasure  and  profit;  with  many,  too,  who  will  have  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  you  occasionally. 

"  I  trust,  should  such  be  the  result,  that  you  would 
see  no  cause  to  regret  the  exchange.  Mr.  Williams  and 
yourself  might  be  helpers  of  each  other  in  the  great 
and  good  work  of  promoting  the  spiritual  interests  of 
affectionate  people;  there  need  be  no  jealousy  nor  dis- 
cord, either  between  ministers  or  people,  but  each  should 
strive  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  other,  as  one 
common  faith  will  be  inculcated,  and  I  trust  the  most 
affectionate  and  kind  offices  reciprocated,  your  own  per- 
sonal happiness  promoted,  and  the  great  Redeemer's 
kingdom  strengthened  and  increased. 

"Your  people  at  Londonderry  might  be  more  willing 
that  you  should  return  to  this  town,  rather  than  any 
other,  as  they  must  well  know  your  attachments  here 
were  strong,  and  that  your  own  comfort  might  be  pro- 
moted. Your  children  would  no  doubt  be  pleased  to 
return  to  the  place  of  their  juvenile  pastimes,  and 
again  to  associate  with  those  who  were  their  earliest 
friends.  No  meeting  has  yet  been  called  of  the  church 
and  society,  but  the  disposition  of  the  people  (so  far 
as  I  can  learn)  favors  the  invitation.  Mrs.  Wheelwright 
and  children  desire  their  affectionate  regards  to  you  and 
family. 

"I  am  your  affectionate  brother, 

"  E.  Wheelwright." 


LOXDOXDEREY.  133 

The  call  to  Newburyport  was  accepted.  He  preached 
his  farewell  sermon  at  Londonderry,  May  7,  1826. 

A  "  Sketch  of  the  Londonderry  Church,"  by  one  of 
his  successors  there,  being  already  in  print,  the  follow- 
ing extract  is  perhaps  admissible  :  — 

"  It  was  during  Dr.  Dana's  ministry  that  the  temper- 
ance movement  began.  His  spirit  was  grieved  by  the 
customs  and  habits  of  the  people  in  respect  to  the  use 
of  intoxicating  drinks.  He  saw  great  need  of  reform, 
and  labored  hard  to  effect  one.  Spirit  was  sold,  and 
drank  on  the  Sabbath  by  members  of  the  church. 
This  was  a  common  practice ;  nor  was  it  then  consid- 
ered disreputable.  Indeed,  one  is  said  to  have  re- 
marked, "  I  do  not  see  how  I  can  worship  God  accep- 
tably  when  I  feel  so  very  thirsty.''''  On  a  Sabbath  pre- 
ceding a  State  fast,  Dr.  Dana  urged  his  hearers  to 
give  him  a  full  house  on  that  occasion,  as  he  had  for 
them  a  special  message  from  the  Lord.  Fast-day  came, 
and  the  house  was  very  well  filled  to  listen  to  the  mes- 
sage. It  was  a  plain,  searching  discourse  on  temper- 
ance. Though  much  opposition  and  disaffection  were 
excited  by  his  decided  treatment  of  this  evil,  yet  great 
and  permanent  good  was  the  final  result  of  his  efforts." 

When  a  few  years  had  passed  by,  the  seed  which  he 
had  sown  in  discouragement  and  grief  yielded  a  rich 
and  joyful  harvest.  No  place  became  more  distinguished 
for  the  change  in  its  habits  as  to  temperance,  than  Lon- 
donderry. Religion  was  revived,  and  large  accessions 
were  made  to  the  church,  of  those  into  whose  hearts 
the  impression  of  his  preaching  and  of  his  character  had 
silently  and  deeply  sunk.  In  subsequent  years,  his  visits 
to  Londonderry  (where,  after  a  time,  his  eldest  daughter 
resided)  were  exceedingly  pleasant. 

12 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1826-1837. 

Return  to  Newburyport. —  Ordination  at  Ips- 
wich.—  General  Assembly  of  1827.  —  Death  of 
Dr.  Joseph  Dana. — Revivals.  —  New  Divinity. 
—  Strictures  on  Radicalism  in  the  Pulpit. — 
Election  Sermon. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1826,  he  was  installed  Pastor 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  P.  Williams,  his  successor  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  delivered  the  installation 
sermon.  A  few  weeks  later  (July  15),  he  thus  writes 
to  his  son,  then  a  student  in  Dartmouth  College  :  — 

"We  begin  to  feel  somewhat  more  settled  and  at 
home :  in  one  particular,  at  least,  I  seem  to  have  gotten 
back  to  former  times.  I  have  scarely  a  moment  that  I 
can  call  my  own  ;  and  begin  to  think  that  I  must,  if 
possible,  devise  some  means  of  securing  some  portion 
of  my  time  to  the  great  purpose  of  study.  Hitherto, 
my  people  appear  candid  and  kind.  The  congregation, 
since  I  came,  has  been  rather  increasing.  It  numbers 
probably  from  one  hundred  and  thirty  to  one  hundred 
and  forty  families.  The  sermons  delivered-the  Sabbath 
after  my  installation,  have  been  requested  for  the  press; 
and  I  have  acceded  to  the  proposal,  though  to  this 
moment  I  have  done  nothing  toward  preparing  them. 
Yesterday  afternoon,  I  made  a  beginning  with  a  Bible- 

134 


IPSWICH.  135 

class  of  young  ladies.  The  number  likely  to  attend  is 
probably  thirty  at  least;  and  I  have  a  hope  that  the 
attempt  will  be  blessed  to  some  purpose  of  spiritual 
good.  I  have  some  prospect,  likewise,  of  a  Bible-class 
of  young  men." 

He  was  now  surrounded  by  friends,  old  and  new. 
One  of  the  earlier  signs  of  recuperated  vigor  in  his 
church,  was  the  erection  of  a  lecture-room. 

In  June,  1826,  he  preached  the  ordination  sermon  of 
the  Rev.  Daniel  Fitz,  settled,  as  colleague  pastor,  with, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Dana,  over  the  South  Church  in 
Ipswich.  Near  the  close  is  the  following  address  to  the 
people  :  — 

"  My  dear  Friends  of  this  Christian  Church 
and  Society,  —  Permit  one  who  drew  his  first  breath 
among  you,  and  who  has  followed  you  through  life  to 
this  moment,  with  affectionate  solicitude,  to  mingle  his 
feelings  with  yours  on  this  joyous  day.  But  how  can 
my  tongue  give  utterance  to  all  which  my  full  heart 
prompts?  Let  me  simply  lead  you  up,  in  admiring 
gratitude,  to  the  Eternal  Source  of  all  good.  Adore, 
with  me,  my  friends,  that  wonderful  mercy  of  Heaven 
which  has  watched  over  you  in  days  that  are  past  ; 
which  has  preserved  your  union  in  such  a  degree  un- 
broken ;  which  has  prepared  this  young  man  for  you, 
and  prepared  you  for  him  ;  which  has  opened,  not  only 
your  hearts  harmoniously  to  receive  him,  but  your 
treasures  to  give  him  a  liberal  support ;  which  has  pre- 
served your  aged  Pastor,  who  has  so  long  preached  to 
you  the  word  of  life,  so  long  been  honored  with  your 
esteem,  and  happy  in  your  affection,  to  witness  the 
solemnities   of  this  joyful   day ;  to  receive  a  fellow- 


136  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

laborer  whom  he  cordially  approves,  and  whom  he  can 
cheerfully  entrust  with  a  people  so  beloved  ;  and  thus 
to  hope,  that,  in  closing  life,  he  will  leave  you,  not  a 
divided  people,  to  be  scattered  to  the  winds,  or  to  be- 
come the  prey  of  ruinous  delusions,  but  a  united 
church  .and  congregation,  listening  to  the  same  gospel 
which  has  been  preached  in  this  house  from  the  first, 
and  which  has  conducted  so  many  of  your  fathers  to 
glory.  And  now,  my  friends,  for  all  this  signal  and 
surprising  goodness,  what  will  you  render  ?  Will  you 
not  pour  out  your  full  souls  in  love  and  gratitude  to 
the  glorious  Author  of  every  blessing  ?  Will  you  not, 
in  opening  your  hearts,  this  day,  to  receive  a  beloved 
young  pastor,  open  them  to  receive  the  gospel  he 
preaches,  and  the  Saviour  he  brings  to  you  ?  Will  you 
not,  by  united,  importunate,  persevering  supplications, 
bring  down  a  shower  of  divine  influences  upon  your- 
selves and  your  families,  upon  this  church  and  this  con- 
gregation ?  What  strength  and  animation  would  this 
give  to  the  heart  of  your  young  pastor.  What  a  cheer- 
ing and  heavenly  light  would  it  shed  on  the  closing- 
years  of  your  aged  minister." 

Attending  the  General  Assembly  in  1827,  he  writes 
his  eldest  daughter  :  ..."  I  was  much  gratified  in  at- 
tending the  anniversaries  (at  New  York).  Some  of  the 
speeches  were  truly  excellent ;  and  it  was  remarked  of 
them  generally  that  they  partook  more  of  a  practical 
cast  than  usual.  On  the  Sabbath,  I  preached  in  the 
morning  for  Dr.  McAuley,  and  in  the  afternoon  for  Dr. 
Matthews. 

"  I  spent  a  night  at  Princeton,  where  I  lodged  at 
Mr.  Bayard's,  and  paid  short  visits  at  Dr.  Alexander's 
and  Dr.  Miller's. 


GENERAL  ASSEMBLY.  137 

"  The  business  of  the  Assembly  is  various  and  com- 
plicated. .  .  .  My  mind  is  much  occupied  with  a  variety 
of  objects.  I  usually  rise  by  five  in  the  morning,  and 
rarely  retire  much  before  eleven  at  evening." 

Describing  his  journey  to  Ohio,  where  he  paid  a 
pleasant  visit  to  his  brother  and  to  his  eldest  son,  he 
says,  "  I  arrived  on  Saturday  afternoon  at  Cumberland, 
where  I  spent  the  Sabbath.  It  was  a  communion  sea- 
son. The  minister  of  the  place  was  a  Lutheran ;  and 
we  had,  at  the  feast  of  love,  Lutherans,  German  Re- 
formed (so  called),  Episcopalians,  and  Presbyterians, 
all  holding  communion  with  one  another,  and  with 
their  common  Saviour.  I  took  some  part  in  the  sacra- 
mental exercises  (at  which  five  ministers  were  present ; 
one,  an  Episcopalian,  past  sixty  years  of  age),  and 
preached  in  the  afternoon.  I  need  not  tell  you  that  the 
season  was  delightful." 

To  his  second  daughter  he  writes,  from  Phila- 
delphia, — 

"  My  dear  Jane,  —  ...  In  the  Assembly  we  have 
many  ministers,  both  of  piety  and  talents.  I  have  re- 
newed many  former  acquaintances  and  friendships,  and 
formed  some  new  ones.  As  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wickes, 
they  are  the  same  kind  and  excellent  friends  that  I  have 
ever  found  them.  Every  thing  is  done  to  promote  my 
comfort,  and  to  make  me  forget  that  I  am  not  literally 
at  home.  Dr.  Alexander  dined  with  us  yesterday.  I 
have  always  found  him  an  entertaining  man.  But  yes- 
terday we  spent  more  than  an  hour  in  talking  about 
President  Davies,  who,  you  know,  is  a  great  favorite  of 
mine,  and  of  whose  preaching,  life,  manners,  &c,  the 
doctor  could  tell  me  much,  having  preached  for  several 

12* 


138  REVIVALS. 

years  in  the  same  region,  and  intimately  known  many 
of  President  Davies'  hearers  and  friends." 

In  November,  of  this  year,  occured  the  peaceful 
death  of  his  venerable  father,  Joseph  Dana,  D.D.,  of 
Ipswich.  "  On  the  Sabbath,  but  one,  previous  to  the 
last  Sabbath. of  his  life,  he  preached  a  discourse  which 
he  had  recently  written  ;  and,  on  the  very  last  Sabbath  of 
his  life,  attended  public  worship  three  times,  and  perform- 
ed a  part  in  the  public  services.  In  his  last  sickness, 
which  was  short  and  severe, he  was  calm  and  resigned; 
and,  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  aged  eighty-five 
years  and  three  days,  and  having  been  sixty-four  years 
in  the  ministry,  he  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus."  * 

The  year  of  1831  was  marked  by  very  extensive 
religious  awakening.  Writing,  July  19,  to  his  eldest 
daughter,  resident  at  Londonderry,  Dr.  Dana  says,  — 

"  Our  protracted  meeting,  was,  on  the  whole,  very 
well  conducted.  There  is  much  reason  to  conclude 
that  precious  blessings  have  followed :  a  seriousness 
more  extensive  than  was  ever  yet  known  in  the  place, 
appears  to  prevail. 

"You  will  help  us  to  be  thankful  for  all  the  mercy 
we  have  seen,  and  you  will  pray  that  the  good  work 
may  be  continued  and  extended.  I  long  to  hear  that 
you  have  a  good  faithful  preacher  among  you,  in  whom 
your  people  will  be  likely  to  unite." 

On  the  last  day  of  December,  1831,  a  united  meeting- 
was  held  in  Newburyport,  to  give  thanks  for  the  spirit- 
ual blessings  which  had  crowned  the  year.  In  a  note  to 
his  sermon  on  that  occasion,  he  pointedly  refers  to  the 

*  Funeral  sermon  by  Rev.  Robert  Crowell.  "  Oh,  he  was  a  saint!  " 
was  the  recent  exclamation  of  an  old  resident  of  Ipswich,  when  Dr. 
J.  Dana's  name  was  mentioned. 


NEW  DIVINITY.  139 

views  in  theology  then  recently  advanced  at  New 
Haven.  Long  before  those  views  had  much  attracted 
public  notice,  they  had  been  with  him  a  frequent  topic 
of  conversation. 

Two  letters,  of  the  same  date,  both  from  theological 
professors,  were  elicited  by  this  sermon. 

"  Yale  College,  Feb.  6,  1832. 
"  Reverend  and  dear  Sir,  —  I  thank  you  for  your 
sermon,  with  the  accompanying  note,  received  a  few  days 
since.  I  have  not  time  to  enter  into  the  subject  exten- 
sively, and  will  only  say  a  few  things.  In  some  of  the 
important  facts  or  doctrines,  at  least  in  their  general 
form,  I  suppose  we  do  not  differ  ;  such  as  the  entire 
depravity  of  man  by  nature,  the  necessity  of  divine  in- 
fluence to  renew  the  heart,  that  the  depravity  of  man 
consists  in  a  sinful  disposition,  &c.  But  the  points  of 
difference  seem  to  be  two ;  viz.,  whence  comes  this  sin- 
ful disposition,  and  what  is  it  ?  "  &c,  &c. 

The  writer  says,  in  conclusion,  "  Be  assured  that  I 
have  no  unpleasant  feelings  on  the  subject  towards  you, 
and  am,  with  sincere  respect  and  affection, 

"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"  N.  W.  Taylor." 

"  Axdover,  Feb.  6,  1832. 

"  My  dear  Brother,  —  I  have  read  your  sermon 
with  more  than  ordinary  pleasure,  and  think  it  wholly 
suited  to  the  occasion,  and  the  times.  The  views  ex- 
pressed are,  in  my  view,  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God. 
The  error  opposed  in  your  first  note  seems  to  me  to  be 
of  very  bad  tendency.  The  considerations  which  you 
suggest  I  think  generally  weighty  and  conclusive.     I 


140  NEW  DIVINITY. 

should  not  think  of  making  any  objection  to  any  of 
them ;  though  I  should  doubt  a  little  how  far  it  might 
be  expedient  to  urge  one  or  two  of  them.  I  am  glad 
you  have  preached  and  published  such  a  sermon  ;  and 
it  would  give  me  much  satisfaction  to  know  that  your 
brethren  all  around  you  accord  with  the  sentiments 
of  the  sermon. 

"I  am  as  strongly  impressed  as  you  are  with  the 
danger  of  the  new  speculations,  and  am  determined, 
with  openness  and  decision,  though  with  all  the  pru- 
dence I  can  command,  to  oppose  them. 

..."  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"L.  Woods." 

Writing  to  one  of  his  family,  in  1832,  he  speaks  of  a 
visit  which  he  had  recently  paid  to  Londonderry,  and 
says,  "  My  old  people  received  me  very  cordially.  I 
preached  three  times  on  the  Sabbath,  and  for  Mr.  Par- 
ker on  Monday."  He  had  the  happiness  of  finding 
many  now  united  with  the  church  who  were  not  so 
when  he  was  with  them.  "  The  interview  (he  says) 
which  I  had  with  numbers  was  refreshing  and  delight- 
ful." 

Another  letter,  written  the  next  year,  speaks  of  the 
very  pleasant  visit  which,  with  a  daughter  accompany- 
ing him,  he  had  paid  to  Hanover,  on  occasion  of  deliver- 
ing the  address  before  the  Alumni  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege. 

In  August,  1834,  having  been  invited  by  a  committee 
of  citizens  of  Ipswich,  he  delivered  a  discourse  at  the 
two-hundreth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town.  The  occasion  was  one  of  great  interest.  The 
Hon.  Rufus  Choate,  also  a  native  of  Ipswich,  likewise 
delivered  an  address. 


REVIVALS.  141 

In  reference  to  some  financial  troubles  in  his  church, 
lie  writes  his  third  daughter,  then  visiting  at  London- 
derry :  — 

"My  dear  Susan,  —  I  wrote  Mr.  Anderson,  the 
other  day,  respecting  the  affairs  of  the  society,  prema- 
turely, though  agreeably,  as  I  thought,  to  existing  ap- 
pearances. I  have  now  the  satisfaction  of  saying  to 
you,  my  dear  child,  that  the  aspect  of  things  is 
since  quite  changed.  The  salary  has  been  raised  by 
subscription  (the  best  way  at  present),  and  with  great 
ease  and  apparent  cordiality.  My  friends  and  people 
seem  in  good  spirits ;  and  every  one,  almost,  seems  to 
wonder  at  the  heartlessness  which  prevailed  for  several 
days.  Let  us  give  our  thanks  to  God,  who  can  turn  all 
the  past  to  good,  and  order  things  in  the  best  manner 
for  the  future. 

"I  am  sorry  to  have  given  trouble  to  you  and  the 
other  friends.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  feel  ourselves  de- 
pendent on  our  felloAv-creatures.  But  it  is  good,  very 
good,  to  feel  a  constant  and  unlimited  dependence  on 
God.  Give  him,  my  dear  child,  all  your  heart,  and  you 
are  made  forever.  With  love,  much  love  to  all,  I  am 
as  ever, 

"Your  very  affectionate  father, 

"  Daniel  Dana." 

The  year  1834  was  greatly  distinguished  by  revivals 
of  religion  in  Newburyport  and  many  other  places. 
He  writes  to  his  daughter  at  Londonderry,  March  12  : 

"  Mr  dear  Mary,  ...  It  is  indeed  a  remarkable 
time  in  this  place.     The  Lord  has  done  great  things  for 


142  MINISTERIAL  FINANCES. 

us,  for  which  we  are  glad.  The  work  of  mercy  has  taken 
hold  of  very  considerable  numbers  whom  nobody  would 
have  thought  of,  —  the  careless,  the  vicious,  the  aban- 
doned, scoffers,  infidels,  and  even  atheists.  Many  of 
these  hopeless  ones  are  thought  to  give  decisive  evidence 
of  a  deep  and  thorough  renovation.  Should  some  of 
them  disappoint  expectation,  it  would  certainly  be  less 
wonderful  than  if  the  greater  part  should  hold  out." 

In  December  of  this  year,  he  was  called  to  mourn  the 
death  of  his  eldest  son,  Joseph  Dana,  Esq.,  who  had 
been  for  some  time  in  the  practice  of  law,  at  Athens, 
Ohio.  Two  years  later,  his  youngest  son,  Samuel,  died, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen. 

In  these  years  he  performed  much  parochial  duty 
among  the  people  of  his  first  charge,  who  were 
long  without  a  pastor.  In  one  of  his  letters  he  says 
(Jane  3,  1835),  "Long  as  the  days  are,  my  great  desid- 
eratum is  time."  In  his  address  to  the  congregation, 
at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Stearns,  Sept.  16, 
1835,  he  says,  —  "  If,  in  the  late  and  long  season  of  your 
bereavement,  it  has  been  delightful  to  give  you  my 
sympathy  and  my  feeble  aid,  I  have  a  much  increased 
delight  in  mingling  with  you  in  the  joys  of  this  day." 

In  October,  1836,  he  preached  at  Hampstead,  N.H., 
the  sermon  at  the  installation  of  Rev.  John  M.  C.  Bart- 
ley.  ,  To  those  who  have  marked  the  course  of  things 
in  New  England  during  the  last  thirty  years,  the  ex- 
tract that  follows  will  not  seem  too  long. 

"If  the  matter  of  preaching  is  transcendently  im- 
portant, there  is  no  small  importance  attached  to  its 
manner.  If,  as  ministers  of  Christ,  we  are  indispensa- 
bly bound  to  preach  the  truth,  and  the  whole  truth, 
we  are  not  less  bound  to  preach  it  in  its  native  sim- 


MINISTERIAL  FINANCES.  143 

plicity,  its  force,  its  dignity,  its  majesty.  We  should 
exhibit  it,  not  only  unpolluted  by  human  mixtures,  and 
undisguised  by  metaphysical  subtleties,  but  unsullied 
by  meretricious  ornaments,  and  undepraved  by  de- 
grading associations. 

"  There  is  a  style  which  is  level  to  every  understand- 
ing ;  above  no  one,  and  below  no  one  ;  lucid  and  trans- 
parent ;  and,  like  the  crystal  of  a  watch,  attracting  the 
attention,  not  to  itself,  but  to  what  is  underneath.  This 
is  the  style  which  the  preacher  should  seek  and  culti- 
vate. A  style  which  attracts  attention  to  itself,  and 
excites  the  admiration  of  a  multitude  of  injudicious 
hearers,  is  almost  certainly  faulty,  and  the  very  style 
which  a  minister  should  avoid. 

"  And  there  is  a  mode  of  composition  which  tells  us 
that  the  preacher  is  rilled  with  his  subject;  too  much 
absorbed  in  great  things  to  have  attention  for  little 
things ;  intent,  not  on  the  applause  of  his  hearers,  but 
their  benefit ;  serious  in  a  serious  cause,  and  anxious 
to  make  others  serious  too.  Such  was  the  manner  of 
Baxter  and  Howe  and  Flavel,  and  a  host  of  other 
British  preachers,  whose  memory  ages  have  not  effaced, 
but  embalmed ;  whose  writings  are  most  prized  by 
those  who  know  them  best,  and,  when  once  perused, 
will  be  sure  to  be  perused  again  and  again.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  no  small  number  of  American  minis- 
ters, who  have  long  since  departed  from  earth,  but  who 
still  survive  in  their  writings  —  writings  full  of  gospel 
truth,  and  of  plain,  powerful  appeals  to  the  under- 
standing, the  conscience,  and  the  heart;  writings  which 
did  such  abundant  execution  in  their  day,  and  which 
ought  never  to  be  forgotten  or  neglected. 

"  But  we  have  fallen  on  other  times,  and  other  modes 


144  MINISTERIAL  FINANCES. 

of  religious  instruction.  And  it  is  worthy  of  a  serious 
inquiry,  whether  what  we  fondly  think  we  have  gained 
in  accuracy  and  refinement,  we  have  not  lost  in  solid 
power  and  usefulness ;  whether  many  of  our  modern 
sermons  are  not  fitted  rather  for  show  than  use ;  rather 
for  display  than  execution ;  rather  to  amuse  a  mind  at 
ease,  than  to  answer  the  inquiries  of  the  anxious,  or  to 
harrow  up  the  feelings  of  the  insensible. 

"  Who  that  reflects  seriously  can  but  be  startled  at 
the  tact,  that  a  great  portion  of  the  reading  of  the 
present  day  is  confined  to  works  of  imagination.  Fic- 
titious writings,  which  once  constituted  the  amusement 
of  youth,  now  constitute  the  business,  not  only  of  the 
young,  but  of  children  grown  gray.  Thus  it  is  easily 
seen,  that,  if  our  community  are  far  too  much  dis- 
posed to  serious  thought  on  the  realities  of  eternity, 
the  evil  has  found  a  sure  and  effectual  antidote.  One 
consequence  of  this  state  of  things  —  a  consequence  per- 
fectly natural  —  is  an  eager  and  extensive  demand  for 
sermons  of  the  same  imaginative  character ;  sermons 
which  please  the  fancy,  which  gratify  the  love  of  nov- 
elty, the  love  of  amusement,  the  love  of  excitement, 
the  love  of  every  thing,  in  short,  but  of  truth  and 
piety.  It  is  painful  to  think  that  this  demand  has  been 
but  too  well  met ;  and  that  we  have  too  many  sermons 
about  as  amusing  as  novels,  and  about  as  much  calcu- 
lated to  pain  the  conscience  with  a  sense  of  guilt,  and 
warm  the  heart  with  the  love  of  God. 

"Do  not  many  sermons  of  the  present  day  treat  their 
hearers  absolutely  too  much  like  children',  by  dealing 
almost  continually  in  illustration  ?  They  contain  a 
few  truths,  and  those  often  not  of  the  most  interesting 
kind ;  for  great,  fundamental,  vital  truths,  like  the  rays 


MINISTERIAL  FIR  MX  ESS.  145 

of  the  sun,  are  sufficiently  seen  by  their  own  light  : 
but  what  is  wanting  in  solid,  sober  instruction,  is  amply 
supplied  by  labored  illustrations.  The  consequence 
often  is,  and  very  naturally,  that  the  illustrations  are 
remembered,  while  the  truths  themselves,  thus  gilded, 
not  to  say  stifled  and  concealed,  are  overlooked,  neg- 
lected, or  forgotten. 

"There  is  a  cloud)/,  misty  way  of  preaching,  bor- 
rowed from  the  German  school,  or  from  some  of  its 
humble  pupils,  which  promises  much,  and  performs  but 
little.  Words  apparently  select  and  sufficiently  elegant 
are  not  wanting ;  but  the  thoughts  are  too  feeble  and 
ill-defined  to  make  their  way  through  the  darkness. 
What  is  unintelligible  appears  to  some  profound  :  the 
superficial  admire,  perhaps;  while  those  who  attend 
the  sanctuary  in  search  of  gospel  instruction,  grieve 
while  they  stay,  and  retire  bitterly  disappointed. 

"  There  begins  to  prevail,  in  some  parts  of  our  coun- 
try, a  style  of  preaching  —  it  is  painful  to  call  it  vulgar, 
and  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  it  makes  a  near  ap- 
proach to  vulgarity.  It  affects  to  treat  the  most  sacred 
themes,  and  the  most  awful  truths  of  religion,  with 
perfect  familiarity.  Those  exhibitions  of  divine  majes- 
ty and  wrath  which  have  appalled  and  shaken  the  souls 
of  the  holiest  of  men,  it  can  approach  with  unhallowed 
boldness.  That  Eternal  Name  which  fills  all  heaven 
with  reverence,  and  all  hell  with  terror,  it  can  pro- 
nounce with  irreverent  lightness.  It  can  even  expa- 
tiate on  the  torments  of  the  world  of  despair,  and  on 
the  danger  of  those  who  hang  over  it,  without  either 
awe  or  compassion.  In  the  mean  time,  it  speaks  of  re- 
ligion itself  in  terms  the  most  superficial  and  delusive. 
The  great  and  pervading  change  which  it  involves,  it 

13 


146  MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS. 

fritters  down  to  a  simple  resolution  /  while,  addressing 
itself  to  the  mere  selfishness  of  human  nature,  to  its 
hopes  and  its  fears,  it  builds  this  resolution  on  a  foun- 
dation of  sand. 

"  I  am  compelled  by  a  kind  of  necessity  to  notice 
another  abuse  of  the  sacred  desk.  The  time  is  re- 
membered by  most  who  hear  me,  when  every  thing 
which  indicated  or  excited  levity  of  mind,  every  thing 
in  the  shape  of  jest  or  merriment,  was  by  general  con- 
sent banished  from  the  sanctuary.  What  was  ludi- 
crous was  deemed  profane.  But  times  have  changed, 
and  sentiments  and  tastes  have  changed  with  them. 
In  the  opinion  of  many,  our  religious  anniversaries 
have  scarcely  received  their  proper  seasoning,  till  some 
shrewd  jest  has  relaxed  the  muscles  of  the  audience. 
Xotonly  so,  the  pulpit  (will  it  be  believed?)  the  pul- 
pit is  employed  by  some  who  bear  the  name  of  Chris- 
tian preachers,  as  a  place  from  which  to  retail  merry 
stories  and  favorite  jokes.  Thus  immortal  beings  are 
led  to  trifle  with  their  Maker,  while  in  his  immediate 
presence ;  to  trifle  with  heaven,  and  with  hell.  Thus 
they  lose,  not  to  say  murder,  the  precious  moments 
which  will  stamp  their  eternity.  Thus  numbers  resort 
to  the  house  of  God,  as  they  attend  the  ball-room  or 
the  theatre,  for  amusement  /  and  return  disappointed  if 
the  favorite  gratification  happens  to  be  denied. 

"  I  have  thus  glanced  at  some  of  the  novelties  in 
preaching,  some  of  the  strange  perversions  of  the  pul- 
pit, to  which  our  times  have  given  birth.  I  have  done 
it  from  an  imperious  sense  of  duty,  and  with  undis- 
sembled,  inexpressible  pain  —  a  pain,  I  frankly  confess, 
not  unmingled,  in  some  instances,  with  indignation.  I 
will  not  insult  the  understandings  of  my  hearers  by 


'ministerial  firmness.  147 

inquiring  whether,  by  these  changes  in  the  style  of 
preaching,  the  pulpit  has  gained  any  thing ;  whether 
religion  has  gained  any  thing ;  whether  sabbaths  have 
become  more  solemn,  sermons  more  impressive,  hearers 
more  serious,  and  churches  replenished  with  greater 
numbers  of  solid  and  devoted  Christians  ?  Nor  may  I 
pause  to  inquire  whether,  if  the  cause  of  religion  is  at 
the  present  time  unusually  depressed  ;  if  Christians 
are  more  languid,  and  the  impenitent  more  bold  than 
ordinary ;  or  if,  in  short,  error,  infidelity,  atheism  itself, 
with  the  most  appalling  forms  of  licentiousness  and 
vice  and  crime,  threaten  to  overwhelm  the  land,  and  to 
sweep  away  every  thing  precious  and  sacred  from  our 
country — the  cause  of  these  enormous  evils  is  not  to 
be  traced  in  part  to  the  sanctuary,  and  even  to  the  pul- 
pit? I  am  arrested  at  present  by  the  fact  that  the 
abuses  mentioned  exist,  prevail,  and  too  probably  in- 
crease ;  and  by  another  fact  more  wonderful  still,  that 
some  of  the  most  prominent  and  alarming  of  these 
abuses  have  received  hitherto  but  little  rebuke. 

"  Yes ;  it  is  evident  and  undeniable ;  a  false,  a  per- 
verted, and  most  pernicious  taste  respecting  preaching, 
prevails,  and  is  apparently  still  extending  in  our  coun- 
try. Hearers  of  the  gospel,  in  multitudes,  are  at  length 
absolutely  disgusted  with  the  solemn  and  dignified  ex- 
hibition of  its  doctrines ;  with  the  simple,  unadorned, 
faithful,  serious,  pungent  declaration  of  its  truths.  It 
is,  they  think,  a  worn-out  and  hopeless  experiment. 
"  Give  us,"  they  loudly  and  imperiously  demand,  some- 
thing new, —  something  more  attractive,  more  amus- 
ing, more  exciting,  more  consonant  to  the  improvements 
in  science  and  philosophy,  and  to  the  taste  and  spirit  of 
an  enlightened  age."     What  is  most  of  all  astonishing 


148  MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS.' 

and  humbling  is,  that  some  real  Christians,  instead  of 
breasting  the  torrent,  seem  to  be  absolutely  carried 
away  with  it,  and  to  give  their  influence  to  a  cause 
which,  in  proportion  to  its  prevalence,  must  banish  real 
Christianity  from  our  country  and  the  world. 

And  now,,  who  does  not  see  that  the  Christian  minis- 
ter who  would  be  faithful,  has  a  part  to  act,  which  de- 
mands all  his  fortitude,  all  his  courage,  all  his  immova- 
bility of  resolution '?  He  is  bound  to  adhere,  not  only 
to  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  but  to  the  gospel  method 
of  defending  and  inculcating  those  truths.  He  must 
come  to  the  Scriptures  to  learn  not  only  what  to  preach, 
but  how  to  preach.  Pie  will  gladly  accept,  indeed, 
whatever  aid  in  defending  and  elucidating  the  Scrip- 
tures may  be  derived  from  ancient  learning  and  modern 
science  ;  from  history  and  philosophy  and  polite  liter- 
ature ;  from  observation  and  experience.  But  he  will 
beware  of  depraving  the  pure  and  sublime  religion  of 
Jesus  by  any  human  mixtures ;  by  the  subtleties  of 
metaphysics,  by  sickly  sentimentalities,  or  by  affected 
refinements  of  style.  Still  less  will  he  consent  to 
degrade  it  by  irreverent  familiarities,  or  wretched 
attempts  at  wit  and  humor.  And  though,  in  this  re- 
sistance to  the  taste  and  the  demands  of  a  corrupt  age, 
he  may  encounter  a  torrent  of  fashion  and  of  obloquy; 
though  he  may  meet  the  opposition  of  some,  the  scorn 
of  others,  and  the  affected  pity  of  a  third  class  ;  though 
friends  and  enemies  may  unite  their  efforts  to  turn  him 
from  his  path  —  none  of  these  things  will  move  him. 
Anxious  only  for  the  smile  of  his  Saviour,  and  fearing 
nothing  but  his  frown,  and  leaning  on  his  almighty 
arm,  he  will  boldly  stand  his  ground.  Strong  in  con- 
scious integrity,  he  will  dare  obey  his  conscience  and 


MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS.  149 

his  God,  and  calmly  leave  it  to  time,  to  truth,  and  to 
the  judgment  of  the  great  day,  to  vindicate  his  course. 
"Ministers  of  the  present  day  are  frequently  perplexed 
in  regard  to  some  of  the  measures  recently  adopted  for 
the  promotion  of  religion.     I  have  now  more  immediate 
reference  to  those  protracted  meetings  to  which  many 
have  looked  as  the  principal,  if  not  the  only  means  of 
religious  revivals.     It  needs  not  be  doubted  that  the 
plan  of  these  meetings  originated  in  a  sincere  and  ar- 
dent desire  to  promote  the  salvation  of  sinners  and  the 
increase  of  the  church.     Nor  does  a  partiality  in  their 
favor  necessarily  infer  an  idolatrous  dependence  on  their 
efficacy,  or  a  sinful  neglect  of  the  other  means  of  grace 
appointed  by  heaven.     Nor  can  it,  I  think,  be  denied, 
that,  in  a  variety  of  instances,  these  meetings  have  been 
evidently  crowned  by  the  blessing  of  God  and  the  sav- 
ing influences  of  his  Spirit.     As  little  can  it  be  ques- 
tioned that  many,  even  of  the  pious,  have  placed  an 
unwarrantable  confidence  in  these  measures,  and  hare 
looked  to  them  too  exclusively  as  instruments  of  con- 
version ;  while,  in  the  mean  time,  the  precious  appoint- 
ment and  privileges  of  the  Sabbath  have  been  too  much 
undervalued  and  neglected.     It  is  equally  evident,  that, 
by  many,  the  success  of  these  measures  has  been  greatly 
overrated ;  and,  that,  in  various  instances,  they  have 
brought  numbers  into  the  church  who  have  subsequently 
proved  themselves  to  be  either  hypocrites  or  apostates. 
Who,  indeed,  can  think  it  strange,  that,  in  those  cases 
where  a  complicated  and  powerful  machinery  has  been 
set  to  work  on  the  passions  of  human  beings,  great 
numbers  should  be  deceived,  and  mistake  the  excite- 
ments of  natural  feeling  for  the  operations  of  divine 
grace.     We  are  called  to  notice  with  pain  and  grief  the 

13* 


150  MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS. 

remarkable  languor  and  deadness  in  religion  by  which 
these  seasons  have  been  frequently  followed,  and  the 
awful  withdrawal  of  the  divine  Spirit  from  most  of  our 
churches,  of  which  there  is  now  such  melancholy  and 
conclusive  evidence.  Let  the  churches,  then,  humble 
themselves  in  the  dust  before  a  justly  offended  God;  let 
them  meekly  accept  his  righteous  rebukes;  let  them 
search  out,  and  mourn,  and  confess  and  forsake  their 
errors  and  their  sins.  Corrected  by  their  own  wicked- 
ness, reproved  by  their  own  backsliding,  let  them  know 
and  see  that  it  is  an  evil  tiling  and  bitter,  that  they  have 
forsaken  the  Lord  their  God.  Let  them  remember, 
too,  that  while  he  may,  in  sovereignty,  bless  human 
means  and  efforts  sincerely  directed  to  the  promotion 
of  his  cause,  he  has  pledged  his  truth  and  faithfulness 
to  prosper  his  own  appointments.  What  judicious 
Christian  can  doubt  that  the  present  aspects  of  the  time 
and  the  Church  significantly  and  loudly  demand  a  re- 
turn to  these  neglected  appointments'?  Should  the 
churches  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  call ;  should  they,  in  the 
face  of  all  the  instruction  and  all  the  reproof  which  they 
have  received,  prefer  measures  of  human  invention  to 
the  ordinances  of  heaven ;  should  they,  in  seeking  to 
rise  from  their  depression,  turn  from  the  Sabbath  and 
the  ministry,  which  God  has  appointed,  to  other  means 
and  other  instruments,  the  experiment  may  prove  as 
abortive  as  it  is  unwise  and  preposterous.  And  in  this 
case,  faithful  ministers  will  have  a  most  arduous  part  to 
act,  and  all  their  wisdom,  their  firmness,  and  independ- 
ence may  be  but  sufficient  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  so 
alarming  a  crisis. 

"I  will  touch  but  a  single  topic  farther,  and  that  as 
briefly  as  possible.     At  the  present  era,  when  men  move 


MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS.  151 

rather  in  masses  than  as  individuals,  and  when  a  variety 
of  objects  are  pursued  through  the  medium  of  associa- 
tions, frequent  and  strong  claims  must,  of  course,  be 
made  on  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Of  the  objects  in 
view,  some  are  of  vast  and  universally  acknowledged 
moment ;  for  they  aim  at  spreading  the  light  of  divine 
knowledge  and  the  blessings  of  salvation  through  our 
country  and  through  the  world.  Others  are  calculated 
to  unite  all  benevolent  hearts,  as  they  are  directed  to 
the  removal  or  alleviation  of  some  of  the  principal  forms 
and  sources  of  human  suffering.  A  third  class  may  be 
somewhat  Utopian  in  their  character,  and,  if  they  excite 
a  smile,  may  well  be  suffered  to  pass  without  opposi- 
tion. A  fourth  class  may  be  more  questionable  ;  as, 
though  they  may  present  interests  of  vital  importance 
and  dear  to  humanity,  they  may  be  embarrassed  with 
serious  difficulties.  The  evils  to  be  removed  may  be 
political,  as  well  as  moral :  they  may  be  inwrought  in 
the  framework  of  society,  of  government,  laws,  and  civil 
institutions ;  and  their  sudden  and  violent  removal 
might  induce  general  convulsion,  misrule,  and  ruin. 

"  In  a  case  so  distressing  as  this,  to  whom  shall  the 
Christian  minister  resort  for  instruction,  but  to  his  Sa- 
viour ?  That  Saviour  was  wholly  devoted  to  the  preach- 
ing of  his  gospel  —  a  gospel  which  offers  salvation  to 
all,  and  claims  a  sovereign  control  over  all ;  a  gospel 
which,  wherever  it  goes,  sheds  a  most  salutary  influence 
on  rulers  and  subjects,  on  the  rich  and  poor,  on  the 
elevated  and  the  depressed,  on  laws  and  liberty,  on 
every  interest  of  man.  But  he  let  civil  institutions 
alone.  He  addressed  men  as  individuals,  and  he  de- 
signed, through  individuals,  to  bless  communities,  by 
cherishing  among  them  every  thing  excellent,  and  re- 
moving, ultimately,  every  form  of  evil. 


152  MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS. 

"  St.  Paul  pursued  the  same  course.  "When  he  wrote 
his  celebrated  letter  to  the  converts  at  Rome,  the  em- 
pire was  the  seat  of  the  most  absolute  and  cruel  des- 
potism. But  he  inculcated  no  sedition;  he  preached 
no  revolutionary  doctrines.  '  Let  every  soul,'  said  he, 
'be  subject  to  the  higher  powers;'  and  this,  when  the 
highest  of  those  powers,  the  Emperor,  was  a  monster 
of  cruelty,  oppression,  and  eveiy  vice.  And  when, 
among  those  to  whom  he  wrote  his  epistles,  slavery  ex- 
isted, and  in  its  most  repulsive  forms,  he  made  it  his  great 
object  to  preach  —  courageously,  tenderly  to  preach 
—  both  to  masters  and  slaves,  that  gospel  which  was  the 
grand  instrument  of  softening  the  ferocity  of  the  one, 
and  healing  the  lacerated  spirits  of  the  other. 

"Surely,  these  examples  maybe  imitated  with  per- 
fect safety  by  ministers  of  the  present  day.  In  the 
fondness  of  speculation,  we  may  have  discovered  better 
forms  of  government  and  better  laws  than  those  we  now 
possess.  Yet,  rather  than  become  preachers  of  politics, 
it  were  preferable,  perhaps,  that  we  should  treasure  up 
our  discoveries  for  our  own  private  use.  And  if  the 
evils  of  slavery,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  slaves,  are 
enormous  (and  who  can  deny  it?  who  can  doubt  it? 
where  is  the  heart  of  sensibility  that  does  not  feel  it?) 
let  us  beware,  lest,  by  an  injudicious  and  violent  inter- 
ference, we  exasperate  those  evils  and  those  sufferings. 
If  we  have  confessedly  no  power  over  the  masters 
but  that  of  moral  suasion,  let  that  moral  suasion  consist 
of  something  different  from  exasperating  menaces  and 
bitter  invectives.  If  the  cause  of  African  liberty  and 
emancipation  is  a  sacred  cause,  let  it  not  be  polluted  by 
impatience,  by  intolerance,  by  recklessness,  by  expedi- 
ents which  obstruct  rather  than  promote  its  advance- 


MINISTERIAL  FIRMNESS.  153 

nient.     If  the  evils  to  be  removed,  being  deeply  seated, , 
and  intertwined  with  a  thousand  interests,  demand  the 
calm  deliberation  of  the  wisest,  let  not  excitement  and 
passion  attempt  the  hopeless  work. 

"  I  know  that  to  some,  the  moderation  now  recom- 
mended may  seem  to  be  the  very  thing  we  do  not  want. 
But  I  am  equally  assured,  that,  without  it,  our  peace,  our 
Government,  our  union,  are  lost.  And  the  cause  of 
freedom,  of  African  freedom,  is  lost  too.  A  civil  war, 
and,  worse,  a  servile  war,  the  most  terrible  of  all 
wars,  may  be  at  our  very  doors.  Of  such  a  war,  the 
issue  is  but  too  easily  seen.  And  how  lamentable 
would  it  be,  should  that  race,  already  so  deeply  injured, 
find  itself  reduced,  through  the  injudicious  interference 
of  its  professed  friends,  to  the  dire  dilemma  of  a  more 
cruel  bondage,  or  absolute  extermination ! 

"  Let  us,  then,  as  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  peace,  as 
friends  of  our  country  and  of  the  African  race,  have  the 
courage,  in  this  season  of  excitement,  to  be  calm.  Let 
us  resolutely  and  mildly  adhere  to  our  proper  calling 
and  our  proper  work.  Let  us  go  on  preaching  the  gos- 
pel /  that  gospel  which  is  destined  to  regenerate  the 
world,  to  remove  all  its  sins,  all  its  oppressions,  and  all 
its  miseries ;  that  gospel  which  is  the  best  friend  of 
liberty  and  of  man  ;  that  gospel  which  accomplishes  its 
work,  not  like  the  earthquake  or  the  tornado,  but  like 
leaven;  by  a  process  noiseless, gradual,  yet  effectual,  and 
ultimately  complete  and  universal.  Let  us  not  be  pre- 
cipitated into  measures  from  which  our  conscience  and 
our  best  judgment  revolt.  If,  in  this  course,  we  are  as- 
sailed with  reproach  and  denunciation,  let  us  meekly 
and  patiently  bear  it.  Let  none  of  these  things  move 
us.     Let  us  be  solicitous  only  to  know  and  do  our  duty, 


154  ELECTION  SERMON. 

and  let  us  cast  every  other  care  on  the  Master  we 
serve." 

In  January,  1837,  he  delivered,  by  appointment,  the 
annual  election  sermon  before  the  Governor,  Council, 
and  Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  His  text  was,  "And 
the  leaves  of  the  tree  were  for  the  healing  of  the  na- 
tions." Shortly  after,  he  received  a  letter  from  the 
Hon.  Edward  Everett,  then  Governor,  expressing  his 
thanks  for  "  the  sound  and  seasonable  sentiments  con- 
tained in  it."  He  adds,  "  Happy  would  it  be  for  our 
beloved  country  and  Commonwealth,  could  their  coun- 
cils be  directed,  and  the  people  generally  be  guided,  by 
the  principles  maintained  in  this  excellent  discourse." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

1837-1844. 

Division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  —  Suffering 
from  his  Eyes. —  Anniversary  at  Exeter. — 
Letters  to  Professor  Stuart.  —  Fiftieth  An- 
niversary of  his  Ordination. 

In  respect  to  the  division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
growing  out  of  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Assem- 
blies of  1837  and  1838,  Dr.  Dana's  views  can  be  stated 
in  his  own  words.  The  year  previous  to  the  disruption, 
he  had  addressed  to  the  moderator  of  the  assembly  the 
letter  which  follows :  — 

"  Newbuhtpoet,  Mass.,  May  18, 1866. 

"  To   THE    MoDERATOB   OF   THE    GENEEAL   ASSEMBLY. 

"  Reverend  and  dear  Sir, — If  thus  to  address  my- 
self to  one  whom  I  cannot  know,  and  to  whom  I  may 
very  probably  be  unknown,  require  an  apology,  that 
apology  must  be  found  in  the  nature  and  the  pressing 
circumstances  of  the  case. 

"  The  Presbyterian  Church  in  our  country  has  come 
to  a  great  crisis.  Both  its  friends  and  its  enemies  look 
to  the  present  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  with 
a  solicitude  hitherto  unparalleled.  On  its  decisions  may 
depend,  under  God,  the  continuance  and  prosperity  of 
the  Church,  or  its  disruption  and  ruin.  The  idea  of 
influencing  those  decisions  might  well  seem,  in  me,  the 

155 


156  DIVISION  OF  THE 

extreme  of  arrogance.  Yet  I  hope  I  shall  at  least  be 
pardoned,  if  my  mind,  pressed  as  it  is  with  almost  over- 
whelming anxieties,  seeks  a  momentary  relief  in  pouring 
a  few  of  its  thoughts  into  yours. 

"The  subject  is  altogether  too  ample  for  any  thing 
which  might  claim  the  name  of  a  discussion.  I  shall 
attempt  nothing  but  a  very  few  suggestions,  and  these 
expressed  as  briefly  as  possible.  Still,  these  sugges- 
tions will  touch,  however  imperfectly,  both  the  cause 
and  the  removal  of  the  present  most  serious  and  alarm- 
ing evils. 

"  Instead  of  cause,  I  know  that  causes  might  seem 
the  most  appropriate  term.  Yet,  various  as  may  be  the 
sources  of  our  present  danger,  is  there  not  an  important 
sense  in  which  they  all  meet  in  one  ?  I  allude  to  that 
tendency  to  extremes  which  seems  more  or  less  apparent 
in  every  part  of  our  church.  In  other  words,  I  refer  to 
the  want  of  that  dignified  moderation,  that  Christian 
meekness  and  forbearance,  that  mutual  deference,  that 
calmness  and  candor  in  deliberation,  that  caution  and 
impartiality  in  decision,  and  that  combined  wisdom 
and  energy  in  action,  which  once  constituted  the  glory, 
the  strength,  and  safety  of  our  church. 

"May  I  be  permitted,  with  the  modesty  which  be- 
comes me,  yet  with  the  fidelity  which  the  occasion 
demands,  to  ask,  Has  not  the  Church,  of  late,  lost  much, 
very  much,  of  its  distinctive  character?  Instead  of 
standing  up  as  the  example  and  the  reproof  of  an 
excited,  disordered  community,  is  it  not  itself  a  lament- 
able spectacle  of  excitement  and  discord?  In  looking 
over  the  records  of  some  of  its  judicial  tribunals,  do  we 
find  the  dignity,  the  meekness,  the  mild  and  heavenly 
spirit,  of  the  gospel  —  or  the  reverse?   Who  would  not 


PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  157 

wish  that  many  things  which  these  records  contain 
might  be  blotted  from  existence ;  might  at  least  be  ob- 
literated from  the  minds  of  men  ?  But  the  wish  comes 
too  late :  they  are  written  in  the  tablets  of  eternity ; 
and  they  have  gone  through  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land,  to  the  dishonor  of  religion,,  to  the  grief  of  the 
pious,  and  the" triumph  of  the  ungodly. 

"  That  our  church  has  vast  interests  to  be  preserved, 
and  vast  evils  to  be  removed,  who  can  doubt?  And 
who  can  doubt  as  to  the  instrumentalities  by  which 
these  objects  will  be  accomplished,  if  accomplished  at 
all  ?  Decision,  zeal,  and  energy  are  all  needful; 
but  decision,  zeal,  and  energy  are  all,  by  themselves, 
insufficient.  They  may  be  just  as  poAverful  to  ruin  a 
cause  as  to  aid  it.  And  surely  we  need,  we  greatly 
need,  in  the  present  crisis,  the  spirit^  of  wisdom,  the 
spirit  of  humility,  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  the  spirit  of 
love. 

"It  cannot  be  denied,  that,  within  the  pale  of  our 
church,  some  collisions  have  arisen,  even  in  respect  to 
important  doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  but  may  not  these 
collisions  be  traced,  in  some  instances,  to  a  different 
understanding  and  use  of  terms,  and,  in  others,  to  con- 
flicting theories  of  philosophy  ?  Ought  there  not,  in 
each  of  these  cases,  to  be  much  mutual  candor  and 
forbearance?  Shall  even  real  differences  of  religious 
opinion  be  needlessly  exaggerated?  Shall  they  give 
rise  to  angry  debates ;  to  endless  crimination  and  re- 
crimination ?  Are  not  those  the  best  friends  of  truth, 
who  defend  it  in  the  spirit  of  love,  and  by  its  own 
appropriate  weapons  ? 

"As  for  the  charge  of  heresy,  it  is  a  most  serious  affair. 
Nothing  but  plain,  palpable  opposition  to  fundamental 

14 


158  DIVISION  OF  THE 

truth  can  justify  it.  If  the  supposed  heretic  has  con- 
tended, not  so  much  with  a  doctrine  of  the  gospel,  or  of 
the  creed,  as  with  a  phantom  of  his  own  creation, 
should  he  not  have  the  benefit  of  his  own  mistake  ?  If 
what  he  has  plainly  denied  at  one  time,  he  has  as  plain- 
ly affirmed  or  admitted  at  another,  should  he  not  have 
the  benefit  of  bis  own  inconsistency?  Desperate  rem- 
edies belong  only  to  desperate  diseases.  To  amputate 
a  limb  supposed  to  be  unsound  is  confessedly  a  short 
and  easy  process.  But  will  not  the  good  surgeon  be 
more  gratified,  and  will  not  his  skill  be  more  apparent, 
if,  by  any  means,  he  can  restore  and  save  it? 

"Emphatically,  at  the  present  time,  Zion  spreadeth 
forth  her  hands.  Shall  there  be  none  to  comfort  her! 
Our  church  bleeds  with  deep,  reiterated,  and  (may  I 
not  add?)  self-inflicted  wounds;  but  is  there  no  balm 
in  Gilead?  Is  there  no  resource  in  heaven?  Is  there 
not  in  prayer,  in  faith,  in  Christian  love,  in  the  much- 
enduring  and  healing  spirit  of  the  gospel,  a  species  of 
omnipotence?  Will  there  not  be  found,  in  the  present 
assembly,  a  great  and  dignified  majority  who  will  un- 
weariedly  pray  and  labor  for  its  peace  ;  and  who,  while 
valiant  for  the  truth,  will  as  readily  (to  use  the  words 
of  Baxter)  be  martyrs  for  love  as  for  any  article  of 
the  creed?  I  firmly  believe  there  will;  and  I  confi- 
dently hope,  against  all  disheartening  appearances,  that 
darkness  will  be  made  light  before  them,  and  crooked 
things  straight.  God  himself  will  approve  and  pros- 
per their  efforts ;  and  the  blessings  of  the  Church 
and  of  its  glorious  Head  will  be  their  high  reward. 

"  I  again  implore  your  pardon,  reverend  and  dear  sir, 
for  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  thus  disburdening  my 
full  heart.     Although  I  have  addressed  you  asModera- 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  159 

tor  of  the  Assembly,  it  is  far  from  my  wish  that  these 
free  and  unstudied  eifusions  should  be  communicated 
to  the  body.  Should  my  views  meet  your  approba- 
tion, you  may  submit  them  to  any  brother  whom  you 
please.  The  letter  is  at  your  entire  disposal.  I  would 
not  for  worlds,  even  in  this  feeble  way,  give  a  mistaken 
or  unhallowed  touch  to  the  ark  of  God ;  but  to  con- 
tribute the  smallest  particle  of  aid  to  the  sacred  cause 
of  truth  and  love  (and  the  cause  is  one  and  the  same) 
would  give  me  inexpressible  satisfaction. 

"  With  sentiments  of  respect,  I  subscribe  myself,  rev- 
erend and  dear  sir, 

"  Yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel, 

"Daniel  Dana." 

The  following  extract  from  the  records  of  the  Xew- 
buryport  Presbytery  exhibits  his  position  in  1838  :  — 

"  The  Presbytery  of  Newburyport  met  by  adjourn- 
ment in  the  chapel  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on 
Wednesday,  Nov.  14. 

"The  following  resolutions,  presented  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Dana,  were  unanimously  adopted ;  viz. :  — 

'•'■Resolved,  That  this  "presbytery  cannot  contemplate 
the  disordered  and  divided  condition  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  these  United  States  but  with  profound 
regret  and  grief. 

"  -Resolved,  That,  without  impeaching  the  conduct  of 
its  commissioners  of  the  present  year  in  withdrawing 
from  the  assembly  which  held  its  session  in  the  Sev- 
enth Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia,  and  joining 
the  other  body,  this  presbytery  holds  itself  not  bound 
to  pursue  the  course  indicated  by  the  said  act  of  its 
commissioners. 


160  DIVISION  OF   THE 

"Resolved,  That,  in  the  present  perplexed  state  of 
things,  this  presbytery  is  not  prepared  to  declare  its 
adhesion  to  either  of  the  two  bodies  claiming  the 
name  and  the  rights  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  these  United  States.  Being 
unable  to  act  with  satisfaction  and  with  a  clear  con- 
science, it  solemnly  asserts  the  right  of  not  acting  at 
all. 

"  Resolved,  That  if,  in  the  exercise  of  this  privilege. 
of  deliberation  and  delay,  this  presbytery  shall  incur 
censure  or  excision,  it  will  prepare,  with  Christian 
meekness  and  magnanimity,  to  meet  the  consequences ; 
while  it  will  solemnly  appeal  to  that  higher  tribunal 
at  which  all  erroneous  judgments  of  the  Church  itself 
will  be  reviewed  and  reversed." 

TO  REV.  JOHN  M.  C.  BARTLEY. 

"  Newbueyport,  May  13,  1S39. 

..."  The  views  of  Judge  Gibson  appear  to  me  both 
more  enlarged  and  more  discriminating  than  those  of 
Judge  Rogers  :  I  presume  they  are  generally  just;  and 
I  am  particularly  pleased  with  the  determination  of  the 
judges  to  interpose  their  jurisdiction  no  further  than 
the  nature  and  necessity  of  the  case  seem  absolutely 
to  require.  The  main  point  on  which  Judge  Gibson 
has  failed  to  satisfy  me,  is  the  connection  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  rejected  synods  with  the  plan  of  union. 
If  that  plan  can  properly  be  considered  as  giving  them 
birth  and  being,  then,  Avith  the  abrogation  of  that  plan, 
they  cease  of  course  to  be  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian 
body,  and  the  whole  matter  is  settled.  But  here  my 
mind  is  still  somewhat  perplexed. 

"  A Vhat   will   be   the    effect   of  the   decision    of  the 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  1G1 

judges  we  shall  soon  see.  I  cannot  but  hope  that  it 
will  induce  the  contending  parties  to  come  together 
with  feelings  somewhat  less  exasperated,  and  to  devise 
coolly  and  deliberately  the  means  and  terms  of  an 
amicable  separation  ;  for  this  is  the  most  favorable 
issue  of  difficulties  which  can  now  be  anticipated. 

"  What  course  Mr.  H.  will  take  I  can  only  conjec- 
ture. I  am  however  pretty  clearly  of  opinion,  that,  if 
he  is  guided  by  the  views  of  his  vjresbytery  as  ex_ 
pressed  at  their  late  meeting,  he  will  join  neither  of 
the  assemblies.  .  .  . 

"  Very  affectionately  yours, 

"Daniel  Dana." 

to  rev.  me.  bartley,  philadelphia. 

"  Newburyport,  May  21,  1839. 

"  My  dear  Son,  —  I  owe  you  many  thanks  for  your 
kind  and  excellent  letter.  It  touched  on  the  very 
topics  on  which  I  wished  to  be  informed,  and  the  in- 
formation it  conveys  is  generally  very  gratifying.  Your 
letter  was  the  more  interesting,  as  it  gives  me  all  the 
intelligence  from  Philadelphia  which  I  have  as  yet 
received.  The  "Presbyterian,"  which  generally  arrives 
here  on  Saturday  evening,  has  not  arrived  yet. 

"  I  rejoice  in  the  excellent  spirit  manifested  by  Dr. 
Green  and  other  leading  men.  I  have  often  thought 
that  the  good  doctor  has  been  most  undeservedly  and 
cruelly  reproached,  and  cannot  but  hope  that  his  last 
days  will  yet  be  some  of  his  brightest  and  happiest. 
From  what  you  state  of  the  views  and  feelings  of  some 
of  the  most  influential  men,  I  cannot  but  hope  that  an 
end  is  now  to  be  put  to  the  deplorable  collisions  which 
have  already  existed  too  long.     What  a  fine  opportu- 

14* 


162  DIVISION   OF   THE 

nity  is  now  given  for  the  contending  parties  to  lay 
aside  all  bitterness,  to  devise  and  adjust  equitable  terms 
of  separation,  and  to  part  in  peace.  In  this  case  the 
matter  will  at  once  be  taken  out  of  the  civil  court, 
and  the  Presbyterian  Church  will  cease  to  be  the  sub- 
ject of  unhallowed  reproach  and  profane  ridicule. 

"  I  rejoice  in  the  plan  you  mention  of  an  address  to 
the  churches  on  doctrinal  purity.  It  could  not  have 
been  committed  to  any  one  more  properly  than  Dr. 
Alexander.  From  his  head  and  heart  I  shall  anticipate 
something  very  excellent  and  impressive. 

"  The  commissioner  of  the  Newburyport  Presby- 
tery, it  seems,  is  with  the  New  School  Assembly.  I 
confess  I  had  some  hope  that  we  should  escape  this 
last  mortification.  You  know  that  I  opposed  the  ap- 
pointment from  first  to  last.  Other  brethren  thought 
it  might  tend  to  aid  in  a  friendly  and  equitable  adjust- 
ment of  existing  difficulties.  With  this  view,  profess- 
edly and  expressly,  the  appointment  was  made.  As 
to  the  mode  of  promoting  the  object,  some  discretion 
was  allowed  to  the  commissioner.  Should  Mr.  H. 
make  himself,  properly  speaking,  a  member  of  the  New 
School  Assembly,  and  act  with  them  throughout  as  a 
partisan,  he  will  not  only  transcend  his  powers,  but 
oppose  his  instructions.  After  all  I  shall  not  be  much 
surprised,  if,  by  some  act  of  the  other  assembly,  direct 
or  indirect,  our  presbytery  shall  be  excluded  from  their 
connection. 

"  Should  Dr.  Green  have  published  his  history  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  I  would  wish  you  to  procure 
it  for  me  ;  otherwise,  I  should  wish  for  Dr.  Hodge's 
first  number.  If  you  could  conveniently  procure  me  a 
set  of  the  Presbyterian  Tracts  (bound)  I  should  be 
pleased. 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  163 

"  Wishing  you  the  divine  protection  and  blessing 
at  all  times,  and  a  safe  and  auspicious  return, 

"  I  am  yours,  most  affectionately, 

"  Daxiel  Dana." 

There  was  at  this  time  a  Presbytery  of  Newbury  - 
port.  It  had  been  formed  from  the  Londonderry  Pres- 
bytery in  1826.  It  was  never  flourishing  as  to  numbers ; 
and,  in  1847,  after  having  stood  alone  for  several  years, 
it  was  re-united  to  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry, 
whose  connection  with  the  Old  School  Assembly  had 
been  continued  without  interruption.  Dr.  Dana  was 
thus  brought  again  into  the  ecclesiastical  connection 
to  which  he  naturally  belonged. 

In  1838,  a  slight  accident  to  one  of  his  eyes  resulted 
in  his  being  for  many  weeks  confined  to  a  room  made 
totally  dark.  This  was  a  severe  trial  to  him.  "  My 
time  is  so  short,"  he  would  say.  The  activity  of  his 
mind,  which  he  could  not  repress,  doubtless  prolonged 
the  privation.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  half-century 
connection  of  his  friend  Dr.  Abbot  with  the  Exeter 
Academy  was  celebrated.  The  presence  of  Daniel 
Webster,  and  of  not  a  few  gentlemen  of  distinction  be- 
sides who  had  been  school-boys  at  Exeter,  gave  eclat 
to  the  occasion.  His  absence  was  deeply  regretted  :  a 
letter  dictated  by  him  was  read  to  the  assembly.  Mr. 
Webster  called  on  him  on  his  return  from  Exeter,  and 
cheered  his  seclusion  with  many  pleasant  anecdotes  and 
reminiscences.  One  was,  that,  when  at  school  at  Exeter, 
Dr.  Abbot  once  sent  him  home  to  his  boarding-house 
with  instructions  to  wash  his  hands,  with  the  added 
recommendation  to  him  to  "  use  plenty  of  soap ! " 

It  was  at  one  of  the  Exeter  anniversaries  that  Mr. 


164  EXETER  ANNIVERSARY. 

"Webster,  following  him  in  the  choice  of  bread  at  table 
(of  which  two  kinds  were  offered)  said,  "  I  will  take 
the  same  with  Dr.  Dana :  it  is  generally  safe  to  folloio 
Dr.  Dana."  The  remark  had  special  point  if  it  was 
on  this  same  occasion  (the  date  is  not  remembered) 
that  a  clergyman  present,  zealous  on  a  subject  which 
has  agitated  New  England  for  thirty  years,  said  pretty 
earnestly,  "  But,  Dr.  Dana,  what  shall  we  do  about 
slavery,  —  what  shall  we  do?"  He  replied  by  quoting 
Father  Moody's  pithy  saying,  "  When  we  do  not  know 
what  to  do,  we  must  be  careful  not  to  do  we  knoio  not 
what!" 

Dr.  Abbot's -regret  at  the  absence  of  his  friend  was 
warmly  expressed.  He  writes,  "  I  had  anticipated  the 
presence  and  aid  of  my  early  and  much-loved  friend, 
whose  countenance  and  cordial  sympathy  I  have  from 
early  life  so  often  experienced,  and  which  on  this  occa- 
sion would  have  been  peculiarly  grateful." 

In  1839,  he  published  in  pamphlet  form,  "Letters  to 
the  Rev.  Professor  Stuart,"  comprising  remarks  on  his 
"  Essay  on  Sin,"  in  the  American  Biblical  Repository  for 
April  and  July,  1839.  Although  the  longest  of  his  pub- 
lications, it  seems,  from  the  date  appended  to  it,  to  have 
occupied  him  but  a  short  time  in  the  preparation.  It 
attracted  much  attention;  and  some  copies  of  it  found 
their  way  across  the  Atlantic.  A  quotation  from  it 
occurs  in  one  of  the  notes  to  Dr.  John  Pye  Smith's 
"  Scripture  and  Geology."  The  subject  of  these  letters, 
and  the  spirit  in  which  they  were  written,  sufficiently 
appear  in  the  following  passages  from  the  first  and  last 
pages : — 

"I  begin  by  repeating  my  thanks  for  your  kind  and 
candid  reception  of  my  first  letter,  plain  and  uncere- 


LETTERS   TO  PROF.   STUART.  165 

monious  as  it  was.  This  kindness  of  yours  combines 
with  a  thousand  other  considerations  to  inculcate  a 
similar  spirit  on  myself.  Indeed,  every  feeling  of  my 
heart  recoils  from  the  thought  of  unkindness  to  a 
Christian  brother,  long  loved  and  valued ;  while  fidelity 
to  the  truth  bids  me  treat  his  statements  and  reasonings 
with  the  utmost  freedom. 

"The  object  of  your  essay  seems  to  be  to  disprove 
and  explode  the  doctrine  of  original  sin,  or  of  native 
depravity,  taking  these  terms  in  their  ordinarily  re- 
ceived and  well-understood  sense.  It  is  true,  that 
you  occasionally  employ  expressions,  which,  taken  by 
themselves,  might  be  viewed  as  not  materially  excep- 
tionable by  the  friends  of  the  doctrine  in  question  5 
but  I  appreciate  too  highly  your  independence  and 
integrity  to  suspect  that  you  intend  to  be  equivocal. 
There  is  an  affluence  in  the  English  language  which 
supplies  appropriate  terms  for  all  our  ideas  ;  and  of  this 
affluence  you  are  amply  possessed.  When  you  intimate 
an  opinion  that  the  whole  debate  may  be  resolved  into 
a  difference  in  terminology,  I  can  only  express  my  sur- 
prise ;  or  rather,  I  can  only  avow  a  surprise  which  it  is 
out  of  my  power  to  express. 

"  If,  in  the  remarks  I  shall  offer  on  your  theory,  I  shall 
make  it  appear  that  the  philosophic  principle  on  which 
it  is  built  is  erroneous ;  that  the  celebrated  author 
whose  support  it  claims  gives  it  no  support  at  all ; 
that  the  theory  itself  is  in  conflict  with  the  Scriptures  ; 
that  it  is  inconsistent  with  your  own  repeated  admis- 
sions and  statements ;  and,  finally,  that  it  stands  op- 
posed to  your  publicly  avowed  opinions,  —  you  will 
doubtless  admit  that  it  should  be  abandoned.  On  the 
points  thus  indicated,  I  will  venture  no  confident  prom- 


166        LETTERS   TO  PROF.    STUART. 

ises.  All  I  ask  is  to  be  favored,  in  this  discussion,  with 
the  candid  attention  and  the  critical  scrutiny  of  your- 
self and  of  my  readers  at  large."  .  .  . 

"  I  cannot  conclude  without  adverting  to  one  point 
in  your  essay  which  has  not  yet  been  touched.  You 
seem  to  apprehend  that  the  great  evil  in  the  Church,  at 
this  day,  is  an  intolerance  of  error,  an  extreme  sensi- 
tiveness to  every  departure  from  truth.  But  others 
are  of  a  different  opinion.  They  think  that  a  '  wide- 
spread and  increasing  indifference  to  sound  doctrine 
is  the  present  great  sin  of  the  Christian  Church.'  And 
you  yourself,  I  think,  will  not  be  backward  to  admit 
that  '  there  can  be  no  surer  sign  of  degeneracy  than 
the  peaceable  progress  of  error.1  For  myself,  I  have  no 
disposition  to  defend  any  arbitrary  methods  of  sup- 
pressing heresy.  It  is  the  truth  which,  in  this  case,  is 
the  sufferer.  Yet  if  there  is  not,  in  this  age,  an  unusual 
and  alarming  insensibility  to  the  progress  of  error,  and 
to  the  duty  of  opposing  it ;  if  many  Christians  have 
not  too  much  forgotten  their  obligation  to  '  contend 
earnestly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,'  — 
then  I  am  utterly  unacquainted  with  the  signs  of  the 
times. 

"I  have  thus,  my  dear  sir,  given  utterance  to  some 
of  the  many  thoughts  occasioned  by  the  perusal  of 
your '  Essay  on  Sin.'  If  these  letters  are  pervaded  by  a 
style  of  plainness  and  freedom  which  may  seem  not 
quite  congenial  to  your  character  and  station,  my  apol- 
ogy must  be  found  in  the  deeply  interesting  nature  of 
the  subject,  and  the  imperious  demands  of  truth.  Nor 
has  it  escaped  me,  that  I  address  one  who  obviously 
holds  the  freest  expression  of  thoughts  and  feelings  to 
be  no  crime.     Never  did  I  more  sincerely  deprecate  a 


LETTERS   TO  PROF.   STUART.  167 

belligerent  spirit  in  the  Church  than  at  the  present 
moment.  Never  did  I  cherish  a  more  ardent  desire  to 
live  in  peace  with  all  who  love  the  Redeemer  and  his 
cause.  But  peace  itself,  if  purchased  at  the  expense  of 
essential  truth,  is  too  dearly  bought. 

"  Humbly  commending  what  I  have  written  to  your 
candor,  and  that  of  the  Christian  public,  and,  above  all, 
to  the  patronage  and  blessing  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church,  I  subscribe  myself, 

"Very  affectionately  and  sincerely, 

"  Your  friend  and  brother, 

"Daxiel  Dana. 

"  Newburypokt,  Aug.  20,  1839." 

The  following,  from  a  professor  in  a  theological  sem- 
inary, is  one  of  many  letters  expressing  thanks  to  him 
for  this  publication  :  — 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Daxa  :  Dear  Sir, —  I  have  received,  some 
time  since,  yoitr  very  excellent  pamphlet  containing  a 
series  of  letters  to  Professor  Stuart,  for  which  I  most 
sincerely  thank  you ;  and  for  the  production  of  which 
I  would  have  thanked  you,  even  though  you  had  for- 
gotten me  in  your  kind  distribution. 

"I  have  read  your  pamphlet  with  very  great  satis- 
faction, and  fully  assent  to  its  entire  and  important 
truth.  I  think  it  clear  and  kind  ;  brief,  yet  full ;  easily 
understood ;  and  altogether  unansAverable,  if  the  Bible 
is  to  be  umpire.  I  think,  moreover,  that  the  time,  the 
occasion,  the  spirit,  and  ability,  and,  above  all,  the  great 
importance  of  the  truths  involved,  will  recommend  the 
book  to  the  best  feelings  of  all  who  love  truth  more 
than  theory,  or  gospel  more  than  theology." 


1G8  LETTERS. 

In  June,  1841,  he  writes  to  his  daughter  at  London- 
deny,  — 

"  How  can  I  ever  forget  the  delightful  visit  I  had 
with  you  about  this  time  last  year?  It  was  a  gratifica- 
tion indeed,  and  the  remembrance  is  as  pleasant  as  it  is 
always  fresh. 

"  I  transmitted,  some  days  since,  to  Mr.  Anderson, 
my  sermon  on  Mr.  Bartlet.  Perhaps  you  were  sur- 
prised that  I  should  undertake  so  formidable  a  task. 
But  the  circumstances  were  somewhat  urgent.  What 
principally  reconciled  me  to  the  task,  was  the  opportu- 
nity it  gave  me  to  bear  my  emphatic  testimony  in  favor 
of  preserving  in  purity  the  genuine  principles  of  the 
Seminary ;  and  I  hope  I  may  now  say,  that,  should  it 
ever  swerve  from  its  original  design,  I  have  washed  my 
hands  of  the  guilt." 

Writing  one  of  his  daughters,  he  says,  — 

"  My  time  passed  very  pleasantly  at  Dorchester. 
After  the  second  service,  Mrs.  Codman  took  me  to  Mr. 
Withington's.  The  mother  of  our  friend  Leonard  is 
certainly  one  of  the  best  of  women  ;  and  probably  he 
is  indebted  to  her  for  much  of  his  genius  and  good 
feeling. 

•  •  •  "  You  have,  probably  before  this,  seen  some  por- 
tions of  the  Lyceum  lecture  of  which  you  speak.  My 
account  of  Newbury  port  has  little  to  recommend  it 
save  its  truth;  and  to  this,  I  hope,  it  has  some  valid 
claims.'1' 

March,  1842.  "We  have  been  much  pestered  here, 
the  past  winter,  with  Mr.  Miller's  doctrines,  and  their 
incompetent,  but  very  presumptuous  preachers.  Much 
excitement  has  been  occasioned,  which  we  hope  will  in 
most  cases  prove  transient.     Other  sources  of  uneasi- 


HALF-CENTUBY  SERMON.  169 

ness  arise  in  some  of  our  churches.  Mr.  Campbell  has 
had  his  full  share  with  the  disorganizes.  But  I  hope 
and  believe  he  will  weather  the  storm." 

In  1844,  he  was  gratified  with  a  letter  from  a  friend 
of  his  early  years  who  was  near  the  close  of  a  long 
life  of  eminent  usefulness  — the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Coffin, 
for  many  years  President  of  Greenville  College,  Tenn. 

Dr.  Coffin  says,  "Your  expressions  of  esteem  and 
attachment,  and  best  wishes  for  time  and  eternity,  are 
most  cordially  reciprocated.  Your  ministerial  course, 
as  to  ecclesiastical  connection,  and  some  of  the  more 
exciting  topics  of  the  day,  I  have  been  able,  with  no 
small  pleasure,  to  trace." 

The  19th  of  November,  1844,  completed  fifty 
years  since  his  ordination.  Without  his  knowledge,  it 
was  determined  beforehand  by  his  friends  that  it  should 
not  pass  unnoticed.  An  invitation  was  given  him,  too 
cordial  to  be  declined,  to  deliver  a  discourse  on  that 
day  in  the  church  in  which  had  been  his  earliest  min- 
istry. From  the  printed  copy  we  subjoin  several 
extracts  :  — 

"  Fifty  years  since,  standing  on  this  spot,  I  re- 
ceived in  sacred  charge,  and  with  a  trembling  heart, 
a  beloved  people;  Little  did  I  then  think  tMt  my  un- 
worthy life  would  be  prolonged  to  its  present  date,  or 
that  aught  but  death  could  terminate  that  endearing 
connection.  Twenty-four  years  since,  the  event,  so 
unanticipated  and  so  painful,  took  place.  I  gave  you 
my  parting,  and,  as  I  supposed,  my  final,  benediction. 
Little  did  I  imagine  that  the  scene  would  ever  be 
renewed,  or  that  any  thing  analogous  would  ever  arise. 
But  your  affectionate  invitation,  coming  to  my  heart 

15 


170  HALF-CENTURY  SERMON. 

with  all  the  force  of  a  command,  brings  me  again 
before  you  this  day. 

"A  multitude  of  thoughts  and  feelings  excited  by 
the  occasion  must  be  suppressed ;  for  they  are  abso- 
lutely unutterable.  It  shall  be  my  humble  aim  to 
employ  the-  present  hour,  deeply  interesting  as  it  is 
to  myself  and  to  most  of  my  hearers,  in  a  manner  which 
may  be  profitable  to  all. 

"  Suffer  me,  then,  in  opening  my  heart  to  those  be- 
loved friends  to  whom,  in  former  and  more  recent  time, 
I  have  preached  the  gospel  —  for  both  classes  are  now 
before  me  —  suffer  me  to  appropriate  the  address  of  the 
apostle  in  the  text.  For,  pre-eminent  as  he  was  in 
every  natural,  acquired,  and  supernatural  gift,  he  only 
speaks  here  the  language  of  every  sincere  minister, 
though  of  the  humblest  talents  and  station.  All  such 
can  truly  say  to  those  whom  they  have  served  in  the 
gospel  '  JVbio  we  live,  if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord? 

"You  see,  then,  my  friends,  what  constitutes  the 
crowning  joy  and  felicity  of  ministers:  It  is  the  pious 
steadfastness  of  their  Christian  hearers. 

"  Let  us  meditate  a  while  on  this  momentous  truth, 
and  open  our  minds  and  hearts  to  its  influence. 

..."  Indulged  as  I  have  been,  beloved  hearers,  to 
accomplish  half  a  century  of  ministerial  service,  chiefly 
in  this  place ;  and  called,  this  day,  to  utter  some  of  my 
last  words,  I  may  be  expected,  perhaps,  to  take,  at  least, 
a  momentary  review  of  the  past. 

"  I  was  first  invited  to  officiate  in  this  congregation 
in  the  spring  of  1794.  Here  I  found  a  church  which 
had  been  gathered  about  a  half-century  previous,  and 
this,  with  a  professed  view  to  cultivate  great  purity  in 
the  truths  and  ordinances  of  God.     Heaven  had  signally 


HALF-CENTURY  SERMON.  171 

smiled  on  the  design ;  and  under  the  successive  min- 
istrations of  two  distinguished  pastors,  the  church  and 
congregation  had  attained  an  unusually  nourishing 
state.  Recently,  indeed,  their  numbers  had  been  some- 
what diminished  by  a  secession,  which,  being  not  small 
from  the  first,  speedily  increased  to  a  large  and  respect- 
able society.  My  ordination  proceeded  with  a  degree 
of  harmony,  but  not  to  universal  satisfaction  ;  and  the 
worthy  members  who  dissented  retired  the  following 
year,  and  formed  the  church  and  congregation  to  which 
I  have  had  the  honor  to  minister  for  the  last  eighteen 
years.  My  own  flock,  however,  still  remained  large, 
and  furnished  ample  employment  for  all  my  powers  of 
both  body  and  mind.  To  me,  my  labors,  though  ar- 
duous, were  delightful ;  and  to  the  honor  of  my  heav- 
enly Master,  I  would  acknowledge,  that  they  were  not 
wholly  unblest.  Without  any  signal  revival  of  religion, 
the  church  received  gradual,  but  not  inconsiderable, 
accessions ;  and  these  accessions  were  rather  increased 
in  the  closing  years  of  my  connection.  When  invited 
to  a  new  and  distant  scene  of  action,*  I  felt  it  a  duty 
to  submit  the  question  of  compliance  to  the  judgment 
and  advice  of  others.  When,  in  obedience  to  that 
judgment  and  advice,  I  forced  myself  away  from  a 
people  most  tenderly  beloved,  the  scene  was  heart- 
rending. And  such  was  my  prostration  of  bodily,  as 
well  as  mental  power,  that,  for  a  time,  the  hope  of  future 
action  and  usefulness  almost  deserted  me.  That  my 
heart  was  not  separated,  my  friends  are  all  well  aware ; 
nor  has  it  been  a  small  delight,  since  my  return  to  this 
place,  occasionally  to  revisit  their  pulpit,  and  to  mingle 
my  sympathies  in  the  scenes  of  their  sickness  and  sorrow. 

*  The  presidency  of  Dartmouth  College. 


172  HALF-CENTURY  SERMON. 

It  has  likewise  been  a  source  of  heart-felt  satisfaction, 
that,  with  each  of  the  highly  esteemed  ministers  who 
have  succeeded  me,  I  have  maintained  a  sincere  and 
unbroken  friendship.  I  have  rejoiced  in  their  prosper- 
ity, and  have  been  gratified  in  lending,  as  occasion  has 
presented,  my  feeble  aid  in  lightening  some  portion  of 
their  labors. 

"  I  am  deeply  sensible,  too,  to  the  privilege  of  minis- 
tering to  the  Christian  society  now  under  my  care. 
Their  small  numbers  have  seemed  well  to  comport  with 
my  own  increased  years  and  infirmities.  The  minister 
who  duly  estimates  the  exigencies  of  his  people,  and 
the  responsibilities  of  his  office,  can  never  want  em- 
ployment. In  my  last  connection,  I  have  found  friends 
firm  and  faithful ;  friends  who  have  aided  me  by  their 
efforts,  and  prayed  blessings  down  upon  my  feeble 
labors  ;  and  here,  too,  adored  be  the  goodness  and  the 
grace  of  God !  I  can  speak  of  the  spiritual  children  he 
has  given  me.  In  the  season  of  quickened  attention 
with  which  this  place  was  blessed  about  thirteen  years 
since,  a  number  not  small  was  gathered  into  my  church. 
Nor,  before  that  favored  period,  nor  since,  have  my 
efforts  among  my  present  charge  seemed  to  be  wholly 
unrewarded. 

.  .  .  "Among  the  privileges  allotted  me  in  this  place, 
I  ought  to  mention  the  solid  friendship  which  I  have 
enjoyed  with  some  of  its  best  inhabitants,  without  re- 
gard to  Society  limits.  Their  conversation  has  often 
been  instructive  to  me,  their  kindness  animating,  their 
sympathy  consoling.  Indeed,  from  every  description  of 
citizens,  I  have  received  all  the  attention  and  respect  I 
could  desire,  and  far  more  than  I  have  deserved.  So  mul- 
tiplied are  the  tokens  of  regard  and  affection  which  have 


HALF-CENTURY  SERMON.  173 

thronged  around  me  of  late,  that  my  heart  must  be 
composed  of  strange  materials,  if  its  liveliest  sensibilities 
have  not  been  awakened. 

"  With  the  ministers  of  the  place  generally,  I  have 
lived  in  an  interchange  of  kind  offices  which  has  been 
rarely  interrupted ;  while  from  those  with  whom  cir- 
cumstances have  particularly  connected  me,  I  have  de- 
rived much  aid  and  support  in  the  discharge  of  my 
ministerial  functions. 

..."  Let  me  only  add  a  few  closing  words  to  the 
members  of  those  two  beloved  societies  to  which  so 
great  a  portion  of  my  ministerial  life  and  labors  has 
been  devoted. 

"And  let  me  call  you,  my  dear  friends,  to  unite  with 
me  in  gratefully  adoring  the  mercy  of  God,  that  he 
should  be  pleased  to  inti'ust  me  with  the  ministry  i  >f 
the  gospel,  and  permit  me  to  execute  it  during  the 
unusual  period  of  fifty  years.  To  preach  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  my  Saviour,  I  have  truly  preferred  to 
the  very  highest  of  earthly  honors.  To  be  continued  in 
the  gospel  vineyard,  when  most  of  my  fellow-laborers, 
and  nearly  all  my  contemporaries,  are  gone,  is  a  great 
and  distinguishing  mercy. 

"  If  any  good  has  resulted  from  my  ministry ;  if  the 
cause  of  Christ  and  his  truth  has,  in  any  degree,  been 
served ;  if,  in  my  unworthy  hands,  the  gospel  has  in- 
strumentally  saved  immortal  souls  from  ruin,  or  quick- 
ened and  comforted  the  children  of  God ;  ascribe,  I 
entreat  you,  all  the  glory,  now  and  forever,  to  the  riches 
of  sovereign  and  almighty  grace. 

"Let  me  entreat  you,  likewise,  to  join  your  prayers 
with  mine,  that  the  defects  and  sins  of  my  life  and 
ministry  (ah,  they  are  great  and  numberless !)  may  be 

15* 


17-4  HALF-CENTURY  SERMON. 

graciously  pardoned ;  and  that,  through  the  precious 
blood  shed  for  the  priesthood  as  well  as  for  the  congre- 
gation, my  very  imperfect  and  stained  services  may 
find  acceptance,  and  myself  be  permitted  to  appear 
with  comfort  before  my  final  Judge.  The  Lord  grant 
that  toe  all  may  find  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  that  day  /" 
Our  space  admits  but  one  of  the  hymns  composed 
for  the  occasion,  that  by  the  Hon.  George  Lunt :  — 

"  Our  fathers'  God,  we  bless  thy  name, 
Whose  promise  stands  in  words  of  light, 
That  still,  from  age  to  age  the  same, 
Thine  own  are  precious  in  thy  sight. 

Our  days,  like  bubbles  down  the  stream, 

Dissolving,  float  and  melt  away; 
And  life  we  call  a  fleeting  dream, 

As  worldly  hopes  and  thoughts  decay. 

But  when  a  servant  of  thy  house 

The  nobler  work  of  life  has  done, 
And  round  his  venerated  brows 

The  crown  appears  already  won ; 

'Tis  then  our  souls  adore  the  Lord 

For  every  bright  example  given, 
To  bind  us  closer  to  his  Word, 

And  fix  our  wandering  hearts  on  heaven. 

And  thus,  to-day,  within  thy  courts, 

Thy  people's  grateful  songs  ascend, 
That  Israel's  mighty  God  supports, 

Nor  leaves  his  chosen  to  the  end. 

And  spared,  through  long  descending  days, 

Be  this  thy  ancient  servant  blest, 
To  guide  our  souls  to  seek  thy  grace, 

And  find  with  him  the  promised  rest." 

The  "Newburyport  Watchtower"  of  Nov.  22,  1844, 
thus  notices  the  occasion  :  — 


HALF-CENTURY  SERMON.  175 

"  The  exercises  at  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  ordination  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Dana  as  pastor  of  that  church  and  society,  held  on 
the  19th  inst.,  were  deeply  solemn  and  impressive. 
Few  men  are  permitted  to  labor  in  the  "  vineyard  of 
the  Lord  "  through  the  long  period  of-  half  a  century ; 
and  fewer  still  maintain  for  that  space  of  time,  through 
"  evil  and  good  report,"  such  steadfastness  in  the  faith, 
and  such  an  exemplary  and  consistent  life,  as  this  ven- 
erable divine  has  exhibited. 

"  His  words  of  counsel  and  admonition  come  to  us 
with  the  weight  of  authority ;  his  voice,  so  full  of  ten- 
derness and  love,  awakens  the  deepest  emotions  of  the 
heart ;  and  long  Avill  the  solemn  and  affectionate  warn- 
ings of  that  day  animate  us  in  our  struggles  after  holi- 
ness of  life. 

..."  The  most  devout  and  reverent  attention  was 
given  by  the  large  audience  during  all  the  services. 

"  In  the  evening,  the  friends  of  Dr.  Dana,  in  testi- 
mony of  their  unabated  affection  and  esteem,  made  him 
a  donation  visit.  We  had  the  pleasure  of  mingling  in 
the  happy  throng  that  came  to  pay  their  resiDects  to 
one  '  so  venerated  and  so  loved ; '  and  never  have  we 
passed  an  evening  more  agreeably." 

The  author  of  the  "  History  of  Newbury "  thus 
chronicles  the  day  :  — 

"Nov.  19.  This  afternoon,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Dana 
preached  to  a  numerous  audience,  in  the  church  in 
Federal  Street,  a  sermon  in  commemoration  of  his 
having  been  ordained  the  pastor  of  that  church  and 
congregation  a  half  century  before. 

"  In  the  evening,  his  house  was  literally  crowded 
with  those  of  all  ages,  who  gladly  came  to  show  their 


176  IIALF-CENTURY  SERMON. 

respect  for  the  good  and  eminent  man,  who,  for  a  half 
century,  had  devoted  himself  with  untiring  zeal  to  his 
Master's  jn-eat  business.  Drawing  towards  the  close  of 
his  labors,  nothing  could  have  been  more  gratifying  to 
him,  than  to  witness  the  respect  and  good  will  of  the 
few  who  had  listened  to  his  earliest  instructions,  min- 
gled with  the  many  who  had  been  favored  by  his  later 
ministrations.  It  was,  indeed,  a  cheerful  and  happy 
meeting. " 

Several  pleasant  letters  were  elicited  by  the  occa- 
sion. A  gentleman  who  had  obtained  distinction  as  a 
public  journalist,  writes,  "  I  have  never  forgotten,  that, 
from  the  age  of  seven  to  that  of  twelve  years,  when 
poverty  and  sickness  bore  heavily  upon  me,  and  prom- 
ised to  be  my  only  inheritance  in  life,  I  was  indebted 
to  you  for  much  of  kindly  sympathy  and  generous  aid. 
The  first  books  which  I  ever  read  were  received  from 
your  library.  .  .  .  That  I  have  not  often  acknowl- 
edged to  you  the  kindness  then  shown  to  a  child  of 
sorrow  and  pain,  is  not  because  I  had  forgotten  or  was 
ungrateful  for  it,  but  because  I  knew  that  such  gener- 
ous devotion  was  but  the  ordinary,  even  tenor  of  your 
whole  life." 

Col.  Samuel  Swett  of  Boston,  the  son  of  his  early 
friend,  Dr.  John  Barnard  Swett,  writes,  "  The  occasion 
carries  me  back  to  my  earliest  days,  and  the  ever- 
changing  scenes  of  a  long  and  variable  life,  during 
the  whole  of  which  your  kindness  and  friendship  have 
fringed  the  darkest  clouds  which  have  hung  over  me 
with  a  heavenly  and  benignant  light,  and  added  a 
new  zest  to  the  rosy  hours  when  they  visited  me  again 
in  their  turn.  Two  of  my  reminiscences  recur  to  me 
here  so  importunately,  that  they  will  not  permit  me  to 


HALF-CENTURY  SERMON.  177 

proceed  until  they  have  been  recorded.  Your  Millot's 
History,  and  Addison's  Evidences  of  revealed  religion, 
which  you  kindly  bestowed  on  me  when  I  entered  col- 
lege —  and  your  horse  which  you  kindly  loaned  me  to 
ride  to  Cambridge,  &c.  .  .  . 

FROM   DE.  ABBOT. 

"  Exeter,  Jan.  16,  1845. 

"  My  dear  Friend,  —  I  received  with  surprise  and 
great  pleasure  your  half-century  sermon,  which  you  had 
the  goodness  to  "send  me  ;  and  for  which,  and  for  many 
other  excellent  discourses,  I  most  cordially  thank  you, 
I  could  hardly  realize  that  fifty-six  years  had  passed 
away  since  we  united  together  harmoniously,  and,  as  I 
trust,  affectionately,  as  instructors  of  youth ;  and,  although 
since  separated,  and  somewhat  divided  in  our  course  of 
instruction,  never,  I  trust,  in  affection.  How  similar 
the  termination  of  our  career!  Nothing  could  have 
given  me  more  sincere  gratification,  than  the  recital  of 
the  events  and  circumstances  at  the  close  of  your  half- 
century  services.  Next  to  the  approbation  of  our 
Father  in  heaven,  at  the  close  of  so  long  a  period  of 
active  and  public  service,  is  the  cordial  approbation  of 
numerous  friends  and  a  discerning  public. 

"  Your  labors  for  the  public  good,  I  trust,  are  not  yet 
over ;  mine  have  already  terminated,  and  with  them  the 
ability  to  perform  them.  How  long  I  may  be  contin- 
ued here,  a  useless  life,  I  cheerfully  submit  to  Him  who 
gave  it ;  and  in  grateful  remembrance  of  his  past  good- 
ness, and  in  humble  trust  and  assurance  of  again  join- 
ing my  friends  in  the  services  of  a  better  world.  In  the 
mean  time,  I  am,  most  affectionately  yours, 

"B.  Abbot." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

1845-1853. 

Portrait.  —  Life  at  Home.  —  Personal  Traits. 
—  Resignation  oe  the  Pastoral  Office.  —  Min- 
istry at  Large.  —  Ordination  at  Belleville.  — 
Sermon.  —  Daniel  Webster.  —  Remonstrance 
addressed  to  the  Trustees  at  Andover. 

When  about  seventy  years  of  age,  he  had  been  with 
difficulty  persuaded,  chiefly  by  the  urgency  of  his 
youngest  daughter,  to  sit  for  his  portrait.  The  artist 
had  at  first  an  unpromising  time  ;  but,  one  day,  an  al- 
lusion (either  by  a  happy  accident,  or  by  design)  to  the 
British  poets,  kindled  that  pleasant  light  in  the  eye, 
which  was,  to  some  extent,  transferred,  presenting  him 
as  he  was  when  in  his  lighter  conversational  moods. 
It  served  to  remind  his  children  of  the  happy  times 
when  he  had  read  to  them  from  his  favorite  authors  — 
the  more  striking  passages,  perhaps,  of  "  Gertrude  of 
Wyoming"  (although  he  mourned  over  Campbell  as 
having  "  begun  in  the  spirit  and  ended  in  the  flesh  ") 
or  something  from  Cowper,  or  Mark  Antony  over  the 
dead  body  of  Caesar,  where,  at  the  line  — ■ 

"  Through  this  the  ivell-beloved  Brutus  stabbed  "  — 

his  voice  inevitably  faltered,  so  intense  was  his  feeling 
of  the  passage. 

178 


PERSONAL   TRAITS.  179 

His  literary  tastes  befriended  him  through  life,  re- 
lieving often  his  over-wrought  mind  and  sensibilities, 
and  giving  ever  new  zest  to  his  conversation,  which  was 
affluent  and  sparkling,  even  in  old  age.  He  retained 
in  his  later  years  the  ardor  and  enthusiasm,  and  some- 
thing of  the  imaginative  temperament,  which  are  usually 
more  characteristic  of  the  earlier  period  of  life.  His 
sensibilities  were  always  acute.  In  the  public  reading 
of  the  Scriptures,  pathetic  passages  would  often  over- 
power his  feelings. 

A  single  reading  by  him  of  any  thing  that  particu- 
larly pleased  him,  would  often  leave  a  lasting  impres- 
sion. The  tones  still  linger  in  the  ear  with  which  he 
once  repeated  — 

"  Give  me  again  my  hollow  tree, 
A  crust  of  bread,  and  —  liberty  !  " 

"  0,  world !  thy  slippery  turns,"  and  many  other 
favorite  quotations  of  his  from  Shakspeare,  vividly 
recall  his  manner  of  uttering  them. 

His  earnestness  in  the  pulpit  was  too  real  to  be 
boisterous.  So,  too,  were  his  sympathies  intensely  real. 
It  was  this  which  made  his  visits  to  the  afflicted  so  high- 
ly prized.  In  the  sick-chamber,  at  the  communion  ser- 
vice, in  public  and  family  devotion,  the  depth  and  ten- 
derness of  his  sensibilities,  and  the  fervor  of  his  reli- 
gious emotions,  were  specially  manifest.  He  performed 
none  of  the  offices  of  religion  in  a  perfunctory  way. 
At  the  same  time,  his  sermons  were  not  so  much  above 
the  tone  of  his  ordinary  conversation  as  is  often  the 
case.  They  were  none  of  them  oratorical  efforts,  in 
distinction  from  the  clear  and  forcible  expression  of 
sentiments  and  convictions  deeply  felt. 


180  PERSONAL   TRAITS. 

What  made  his  conversation  so  interesting  was,  that 
whilst  he  took  no  interest  in  common  gossip,  he  was 
animated  and  enthusiastic  on  every  topic  of  a  more 
elevated  character.  Classical  allusions,  fine  sentiments, 
pleasant  anecdotes,  humorous  sayings,  all  had  place  in 
the  ample  storehouse  of  a  retentive  memory.  He  could, 
too,  without  abruptness  or  formality,  give  a  religious 
turn  to  conversation. 

His  study  was  always  a  delightful  place.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  describe  the  associations  which  his  chil- 
dren had  with  it  from  their  earliest  years.  It  was  to 
them  a  hallowed  spot,  not  wholly  of  this  world.  A 
sacred  serenity  seemed  to  dwell  there.  It  was  pleasant 
to  see  him  there  in  his  old  age,  surrounded  by  his 
books.  Long,  long  will  it  be,  before  that  venerable 
form  can  fade  from  memory. 

It  is  remarkable  how  Providence  cared  for  him, 
where  he  had  not  much  cared  for  himself.  He  had 
always  been  singularly  indifferent  to  pecuniary  inter- 
ests. They  were  crowded  out  of  his  thoughts  by  higher 
and  more  congenial  themes.  His  tastes  were  simple  : 
the  only  luxury  that  he  could  not  deny  himself,  was 
books.  On  these  he  expended,  from  first  to  last,  an 
amount,  which,  judiciously  invested,  would  have  been 
almost  a  competence  for  old  age.  He  was  sensitive  to 
the  moral  relations  of  money  :  lie  could  not  live  in  debt, 
and  he  must  have  something  to  give  to  every  worthy 
object ;  but,  beyond  this,  he  seemed  to  be,  in  his  free- 
dom from  worldly  anxieties,  like  the  bird  that  Luther 
describes,  as  "  tucking  his  head  under  his  wing,  and 
going  to  sleep,  leaving  God  to  think  for  him." 

But  this  exemption  from  worldly  care  could  not  last 
always.     To  one  of  his  sons,  who  had,  years  before,  in- 


LIFE  AT  HOME.  181 

effectually  endeavored  to  direct  his  attention  to  worldly- 
interests,  he  at  length  acknowledged  that  his  mind  was 
oppressed  with  the  thought  of  a  dependent  family,  and 
no  provision  made  for  the  future.  The  reply  given 
was,  "  Well,  father,  as  you  have  all  your  life  gone  on 
the  principle  of  trusting  Providence  in  these  matters, 
without  much  use  of  means,  I  think  Providence  will 
make  a  special  effort  in  your  behalf."  The  words, 
uttered  at  random,  as  far  as  any  definite  foresight  was 
concerned,  nevertheless  proved  true  prophecy. 

For  a  year  or  two  previous  to  his  resignation  of  the 
pastoral  office,  his  mind  was  evidently  oppressed  with 
many  anxieties.  The  wounding  thought  had  doubtless 
occurred,  that,  however  attached  to  him  his  church 
at  large  might  be,  some  few,  at  least,  were  perhaps  say- 
ing in  their  hearts, 

"  Superfluous  lags  the  veteran  on  the  stage." 

But  one  day  he  came  down  from  his  study  with  a  light 
in  his  eye,  and  a  chastened  sensibility  in  his  whole  coun- 
tenance, which  at  once  attracted  his  daughter's  atten- 
tion. He  had  just  received  a  most  affectionate  letter 
from  a  widowed  sister,  telling  him  that  he  must  not  be 
anxious  about  himself  or  his  family;  that  she  had 
made  some  provision,  in  case  of  her  death,  which  she 
now  determined  should  be  for  his  immediate  benefit, 
&c.  Such  an  expression  of  human  and  divine  kindness 
affected  him  deeply. 

The  amount  ultimately  secured  to  his  daughters  from 
this  source,  exceeded  what,  by  a  pinching  frugality,  he 
might  have  laid  up  in  the  course  of  his  life,  had  his 
principles  and  feelings  as  to  this  world's  interests  been 
precisely  the  reverse  of  what  they  were. 

16 


182  PERSONAL    TRAITS. 

By  a  sort  of  miracle,  moreover,  the  only  investment 
he  ever  made  proved,  after  thirty  years'  interval,  to  be 
not  thrown  away.  To  a  brother,  of  kindred  elevation 
of  character,  and  equally  unworldly  with  himself,  he 
had  transmitted  a  sum  of  money  (received  by  inheri- 
tance) to  be  invested  in  Ohio  lands.  At  the  time? 
land  on  the  present  site  of  Cincinnati  was  in  the  mar- 
ket ;  but  the  professor  of  languages,  more  skilled  in 
Homer  and  Horace  than  in  the  chances  of  land  specula- 
tion, preferred  a  beautiful  valley  on  the  Hocking  River, 
—  a  "Rasselas  "  Valley,  as  he  himself  named  it.  The 
investment  was  a  most  eligible  one  —  with  the  single 
drawback,  that  the  whole  world  beside  was  likely  to  be 
colonized  before  settlers  would  find  their  way  over  the 
heights  that  enclosed  the  Rasselas  Valley.  Neverthe- 
less, the  era  dawned  when  "  every  valley  should  be  ex- 
alted, and  every  mountain  and  hill  be  made  low  ;"  and, 
as  railways  advanced,  something,  at  last,  came  from  the 
Ohio  lands. 

In  the  later  years  of  his  life,  as  munificently  as  if  he 
had  a  fortune  to  leave  his  family,  he  gave  away  to 
individuals  and  to  public  libraries  the  books  which  had 
so  drained  his  purse.  Beyond  the  more  simple  needs  of 
life,  he  seemed  to  attach  no  value  to  money  except  as 
a  means  of  doing  good.  At  the  last  meeting  which  he 
ever  attended  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, he  subscribed  an  amount  which  was  nearly 
half  his  year's  income  at  the  time.  When,  upon  this, 
a  gentle  remonstrance  came  to  him  from  the  house- 
keeping department,  he  turned  it  off  very  lightly,  say- 
ing that  he  wished  to  give  a  last  testimony  to  the 
greatness  of  the  cause. 

He  was  singularly  remote  from  some  traits  popularly 


LIFE  AT  HOME.  183 

ascribed  to  New  England.  The  reverse  of  shrewd  in 
money  matters,  he  was,  moreover,  so  inexpert  with  the 
penknife,  that  (unlike  his  usual  conservatism)  he  hailed 
as  a  welcome  relief  the  radical  innovation  of  metallic 
pens ;  which  he  used  exclusively  in  his  later  years. 

Whether  these  facts  bear  any  testimony  to  his  an- 
cestry, need  not  be  discussed,  especially  as  in  rela- 
tion to  that  subject  he  himself  never  evinced  much 
interest.  Perhaps  his  very  firm  faith  in  the  descent  of 
all  from  Adam,'  and  in  the  consequences  to  all  of  that 
descent,  had  something  to  do  with  his  indifference  as 
to  questions  of  ancestry. 

In  the  warmth  of  his  patriotism,  he  was  often  in  ad- 
vance of  the  sympathies  of  those  around  him.  When 
he  came  from  the  post-office  witli  the  announcement, 
"Good  news!"  his  daughters  were  sometimes  disap- 
pointed to  find  that  it  only  related  to  the  prospects  of 
his  favorite  candidate  for  the  presidency,  or  some  simi- 
lar matter  of  public  concern. 

It  was  his  constant  habit  to  rise  very  early,  resort  to 
his  wood-shed  for  exercise,  and  then  return  to  his 
study  in  time,  when  the  days  were  shortest,  to  improve 
the  first  sufficient  daylight  for  reading.  When  some 
new  work  that  interested  him  was  in  hand,  —  such,  for 
instance,  as  Good's  "Book  of  Nature,"  —  he  would  be 
in  fine  spirits  at  the  breakfast-table  ;  where,  however, 
the  morning-paper  must  still  be  glanced  over  before 
any  thing  else  could  be  attended  to.  The  lengthening 
of  the  days  was  always  pleasant  to  him,  his  hours  for 
reading  and  writing  being  limited  to  daylight. 

Very  pleasant  recollections  have  his  family  of  his 
great  enjoyment  of  sacred  music.  The  hymns,  "  There 
is   a  fountain ; "    "  Oh !   could  I  speak  the  matchless 


184  PASTORATE  RESIGNED. 

worth;"  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul;"  "Guide  me,  O 
thou  great  Jehovah  ; "  and  others  that  might  be  named, 
—  are  delightfully  associated  in  their  memories  with 
the  tones  of  his  voice. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845,  he  came  to  the  determination 
to  resign  his  pastoral  charge.  This  conclusion  was 
reached  only  after  long-continued  mental  conflict.  To 
preach  the  gospel  of  Christ  was  still  his  delight,  nor 
was  he  Aveary  of  pastoral  cares  and  labors ;  but  other 
burdens  had  been,  of  late,  superadded  to  these  legitimate 
ones.  There  had  existed  for  a  long  time  some  dissen- 
sion among  his  church-members,  in  respect  to  one  of 
their  number,  whose  business  relations  had  attracted 
severe  remark.  This,  by  the  agency  of  a  few  individ- 
uals, had  been  made  the  occasion  of  much  worrying 
annoyance  to  himself.  He  was  now  in  his  seventy-fifth 
year.  Maturely  weighing  all  the  considerations  in  the 
case,  he  became  satisfied  that  Divine  Providence  had 
at  length  affixed  the  term  to  his  pastoral  office.  His 
decision,  once  taken,  was  understood  to  be  unalterable. 
The  action  in  the  case,  of  the  church  and  of  the  pres- 
bytery, was  honorable  to  him  and  to  themselves. 

His  brother  at  Marblehead  writes  him  at  this  time 
(Nov.  10,  1845),— 

"Most  heartily  can  I  sympathize  with  you,  my  dear 
brother,  in  the  trial  which  such  an  event,  under  almost 
any  circumstances,  must  necessarily  from  the  nature  of 
the  case  occasion,  especially  to  a  mind  so  sensitive  as 
yom-'s ;  yet  I  trust  that  on  the  whole  you  will  find  (as 
it  is  with  me)  no  cause  to  regret  it,  at  your  time  of 
life ;  and,  after  having  labored  in  the  vineyard  for  such 
an  unusual  length  of  years,  it  must  be  a  great  relief  to 
you  to  be  released  from  the  weight  of  care  and  respon- 


MINISTRY  AT  LARGE.  185 

sibility  belonging  to  the  pastoral  office,  which  is  always 
sufficiently  exhausting,  and  particularly  in  our  day. 
The  retrospect  of  your  ministerial  life  and  services 
must  be  attended  with  much  consolation,  and  furnish 
abundant  cause  for  thankfulness  and  rejoicing ;  and, 
now,  what  should  prevent  your  passing  the  remainder 
of  your  life  —  which  I  pray  may  still  be  greatly  pro- 
longed—  in  peace  and  comfort.  I  am  persuaded  that 
in  some  way  or  other  it  will  be  made  useful,  and  pro- 
ductive of  much  good,  to  the  church  and  world.  Prov- 
idence has  most  kindly  made  some  provision  for  your 
support;  for  this  I  cannot  feel  sufficiently  grateful :  and 
you  have  not  only  good  children  to  cheer  and  bless 
you,  but  also'  troops  of  other  friends  who  will  not  fail 
to  be  steadfast  and  faithful  to  the  end.  Above  all,  He 
whom  you  have  served  so  long  and  with  so  much  suc- 
cess, will  assuredly  never  leave  nor  forsake  you." 

These  kind  wishes  and  predictions  met  a  signal  and 
speedy  fulfilment.  Just  two  days  after  they  were 
penned  —  one  week  after  the  dissolution  of  his  pasto- 
ral connection — the  following  paper  was  circulated:  — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  entertaining  the  sincerest  re- 
spect for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  who  for  more  than  fifty  years 
has  labored  with  fidelity  and  success  in  the  Christian 
ministry,  chiefly  in  this  town,  and  desirous  of  retaining 
his  influence  and  services  for  the  community  of  which 
we  form  a  part,  agree  to  pay  the  sums  annexed  to 
our  names  towards  his  support  for  the  year  to  come 
in  the  capacity  of  a  minister  at  large y  exjjecting  him 
to  perform  such  labors,  not  otherwise  provided  for,  as 
in  his  judgment  shall  be  deemed  useful,  and  consis- 
tent with  his  health  and  strength. 

"  Newbukypoht,  Nov.  12, 1845." 
16* 


186  MINISTRY  AT  LARGE. 

To  this  paper  were  appended  the  names,  with  liberal 
subscriptions,  of  a  large  number  of  the  most  respect- 
able inhabitants  of  Newburyport. 

His  daughter  writes:  "One  evening,  Dr.  H.  C.  P. 
came  in  to  inform  him,  that  a  large  number  of  his  friends 
desired  him  to  take  the  office  of  minister  at  large;  that 
he,  Dr.  P., had  devoted  that  day  to  going  from  house 
to  house  obtaining  subscriptions ;  and,  he  added,  "it  has 
been  the  happiest  day  of  my  life."  Every  one  had  en- 
tertained the  proposal  with  such  cordial  pleasure,  that 
but  two  or  three  days  now  were  needed  to  complete 
the  roll-call,  that  none  of  his  warm  friends  should  be 
wounded  by  being  left  out.  This  token  of  continued 
attachment  from  his  fellow-citizens  was  very  gratify- 
ing to  him,  and  he  immediately  entered  on  the  duties 
of  the  newly  created  office  ;  duties  which  he  was  left 
to  define  and  fulfil  at  his  own  discretion." 

The  following  notices  appeared  in  the  Newburyport 
papers :  — 

"Through  the  generous  liberality  of  a  portion  of  our 
benevolent  fellow-citizens,  we  have  the  pleasure  to  in- 
form the  members  of  our  community,  that  the  valuable 
services  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  as  minister  at  large, 
have  been  secured  to  them  for  the  coming  year.  The 
spirit  with  which  this  enterprise  was  undertaken,  and 
the  hearty  reception  it  met  with  on  the  part  of  the 
public,  may  be  judged  of  from  the  fact  of  its  accom- 
plishment in  a  day."  —  Watchtoicer. 

"  Ministry  at  Large.  —  We  have  been  much  grat- 
ified to  hear  that  the  spontaneous  liberality  of  a  portion 
of  our  citizens  has  engaged  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Dana   (whose   connection   with  the  Harris-street 


MINISTRY  AT  LARGE.  187 

Society  has  recently,  at  his  request,  been  dissolved) 
as  a  minister  at  large  in  this  town.  The  readiness  with 
which  this  proposition  was  adopted  by  our  citizens 
speaks  well  for  their  kind  and  liberal  feelings,  as  well 
as  for  the  estimation  in  which  Dr.  Dana  is  held  among 
them ;  for  we  learn  from  the  gentleman  who  took 
about  the  paper  for  this  purpose,  that  he  obtained  the 
sum  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  a  single  day, 
without  effort  (almost  everyone  to  whom  he  presented 
the  subject  having  promptly  appended  their  names)  ; 
and  that  a  large  number  of  the  friends  of  the  doctor 
were  not  called  upon,  it  not  having  been  necessary."  — 
Herald. 

The  following  is  from  a  letter  to  Dr.  Abbot :  — 

"  NEWBURYroRT,  Dec.  6.  1845. 

"  My  dear  Friend,  —  Nothing  could  be  more  grati- 
fying to  me  than  your  letter,  and  I  thank  you  for  it 
from  my  inmost  heart.  For  myself,  I  have  sometimes 
thought  that  age  has  not  materially  impaired  or  chilled 
my  social  feelings  ;  and  your  letter  gives  me  a  delightful 
demonstration  that  with  you  the  case  is  the  same.  To 
have  your  sympathy  in  my  trials,  greatly  alleviates 
them  —  not  to  say  makes  me  almost  willing  to  bear 
them.  ...  To  the  last,  the  affection  of  the  great  body 
of  my  church  and  people  continued  unchanged ;  and 
they  were  deterred  from  opposing  my  dismission, 
chiefly  by  my  own  earnest  request,  and  by  a  conscious- 
ness that  my  release  from  such  a  condition  of  turmoil 
had  become  absolutely  necessary. 

"  I  ought  to  add,  that  Providence  has  overruled  the 
unkindness  of  a  few  —  a  very  few  —  opposers,  to  elicit, 
from  numbers  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of 


188  MINISTRY  AT  LARGE. 

the  town,  tokens  of  regard  and  affection,  such  as,  other- 
wise, I  should- not  have  known,  nor  even  suspected,  to 
exist. 

"  My  new  sphere  of  duties  is,  as  yet,  somewhat  un- 
defined. The  subscribers  for  my  support  have  declared 
it  to  be  their  first  object  to  detain  me  in  the  place  ; 
and,  with  great  delicacy,  they  have  manifested  their 
wish  that  I  should  choose  my  own  mode  of  employ- 
ment. This  imposes  on  me  a  task  of  some  difficulty. 
To  divest  myself  of  the  habit  of  preaching  on  the  Sab- 
bath will  be  neither  easy  nor  pleasant :  but,  doubtless, 
I  shall  be  called  to  much  visiting  among  the  sick,  the 
ignorant,  &c. ;  and  this  is  a  task  to  which,  so  far  as 
health  and  strength  shall  permit,  I  shall  most  willingly 
give  myself. 

.  .  .  "Believe  me,  with  every  sentiment  of  friendship 
and  affection, 

"  Most  truly  yours, 

"Daniel  Dana." 

He  speaks,  in  one  part  of  the  above  letter,  of  the 
great  "relief"  which  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral 
relation  had  given  him ;  but  adds,  "  I  ought  to  confess, 
with  much  gratitude  to  God,  that  my  ministerial  life 
has  been,  on  the  whole,  a  favored  and  happy  one." 

The  sense  of  "relief"  was  soon  very  apparent.  He 
was  now  again  buoyant  in  spirit,  as,  with  a  tempera- 
ment like  his,  was  impossible  amid  the  disquietudes  of 
preceding  years.  He  had  always  been  the  friend  and 
comforter  of  the  poor  and  distressed  ;  so  that  the  sphere 
of  his  labors,  as  minister  at  large,  was  a  very  conge- 
nial one.  He  would  often  now  at  night  appear  much 
fatigued  (for  a  lax  construction  of  duty  was  never 
possible  to  him)  ;  but  his  spirit  was  cheerful. 


MINISTRY  AT  LARGE.  189 

Nor  was  he  at  all  left  to  "  divest  himself  of  the  habit 
of  preaching  on  the  Sabbath."  Constant  calls  were 
made  upon  him  to  officiate  in  the  neighboring  pulpits ; 
and  he  also  preached,  at  stated  times,  at  the  alms- 
house. As  long  as  health  and  strength  permitted,  his 
voice  was  still  heard  in  what  had  been  the  great  labor 
and  pleasure  of  his  life,  — "  testifying  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God." 

One  of  the  journalists  of  the  day  says,  of  his  becom- 
ing minister  at  large,  — 

"This  was  a  spontaneous  expression  of  deep  respect 
and  sincere  affection,  and  testifies  equally  of  his  emi- 
nent services,  and  of  their  appreciation  by  the  commu- 
nity. It  was  left  to  his  own  judgment  to  determine 
upon  the  duties  of  this  station,  and  to  perform  such 
labors,  not  otherwise  provided  for,  as  should  be  consist- 
ent with  his  health  and  strength.  He  is  now,  there- 
fore, the  minister  of  the  whole  town,  and  not  of  a 
particular  church.  Although  the  freshness  and  strength 
of  youth  and  manhood  have  departed,  and  the  infirmi- 
ties incident  to  advanced  life  now  prevent  the  active 
performance  of  those  labors  which  were  pleasant  in 
earlier  years,  he  still  retains  the  clear  judgment  and 
lofty  intellectuality  which  distinguished  him  in  other 
days.  Not  yet  lost  is  the  rich  and  glowing  eloquence 
which  once  thrilled  the  heart  of  the  hearer,  as  it  pro- 
claimed to  him  the  high  and  holy  messages  of  heaven. 
May  a  kind  Providence  grant  that  many  long  years 
shall  elapse  before  this  community  shall  be  deprived 
of  the  presence  of  its  venerated  counsellor  and  friend, 
and  the  benefits  which  flow  from  his  wisdom  and 
piety ! " 

This  arrangement,  after  continuing  some  years,  grad- 


190  MINISTRY  AT  LARGE. 

ually  declined,  as  his  strength  was  less  adequate  to  its 
fatigues.  "  Yet  "  (his  daughter  says)  "  he  always,  as  his 
strength  and  engagements  admitted,  continued  to 
preach  at  the  alms-house.  He  sometimes  selected 
large  parcels  of  tracts,  and,  at  the  close  of  sermons, 
invited  each  one  of  the  inmates  to  come  forward  and 
receive  one.  He  used  great  freedom  in  addressing 
them.  His  warnings  were  solemn,  his  persuasions  very 
earnest  —  irresistible,  I  sometimes  thought." 

Writing  to  one  of  his  daughters,  he  says,  "  Though 
I  have  no  charge,  I  have  almost  no  leisure."  Again, 
April,  1846:  "I  have  preached  on  various  Sabbaths  at 
the  poor-house ;  have  given  some  aid  to  Mr.  Stearns 
and  Mr.  Campbell,  and  especially  to  Mr.  Dimmick,  who 
has  been  confined  for  several  Sabbaths.  The  last  five 
Sabbaths  I  have  devoted  to  the  people  of  Mr.  March, 
who  is  sick." 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1846,  he  was  called  to 
preach  the  sermon  at  the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  John  C. 
March,  the  beloved  pastor  of  the  church  in  Belleville. 
He  had  been  much  with  Mr.  March  in  his  last  illness, 
and  sympathised  deeply  with  those  who  mourned  his 
early  departure.  Many  will  vividly  recall  that  rural 
burial-place,  and  the  sun  sinking  in  full-orbed  radiance 
beneath  the  horizon  —  emblem  of  the  close  of  a  good 
man's  life.  In  1847,  he  prefixed  a  brief  memoir  to  a 
small  volume  containing  four  sermons  by  Mr.  March. 

To  his  daughter  and  son-in-law  (Rev.  E.  R.  Tucker) 
then  in  Ohio,  he  writes,  July,  1847,  "You  will  naturally 
conceive  that  Elizabeth  and  myself  are  somewhat  soli- 
tary;  but  we  live  in  great  peace.  I  have  no  parish,  but 
have  thence  no  want  of  employment.  My  Sabbaths  are, 
almost  without  exception,  occupied    in  preaching  for 


BELLEVILLE  ORDINATION.  191 

ministerial  brethren  who  are  absent  or  indisposed.  In 
this  way,  I  come  into  contact  with  a  much  greater 
variety  of  character  than  most  ministers  do.  And  I 
sometimes  indulge  the  hope,  that,  through  the  divine 
blessing,  I  may  be  accomplishing  more  good  than  if 
my  connection  with  my  people  had  not  been  dissolved." 

An  incident  illustrating  his  principles  occurred  in 
1847.  A  candidate  for  the  ministry,  just  from  the  An- 
dover  Seminary,  was  called  to  the  church  at  Belleville. 
The  Ordaining  Council  were  generally  satisfied  with 
the  theological  views  elicited  at  the  examination.  He 
was  not  so.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Eells  (his  successor  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church)  withdrew  from  the 
council.  A  newspaper  discussion  of  the  matter  occur- 
ring soon  after  between  Mr.  Eells  and  Mr.  Stearns,  in 
which  his  position  was  referred  to,  he  thus  stated  it 
himself:  — 

"The  case  was  to  me  difficult  and  perplexing  in  no 
common  degree.  The  Society  in  which  I  had  cherished 
a  deep  and  affectionate  interest,  were  well  united  in 
favor  of  the  candidate,  and  confidently  expected  his 
ordination.  Its  failure  might  have  been  fatal  to  their 
peace.  The  young  gentleman  himself  appeared  intel- 
ligent, amiable,  and  hopefully  pious.  He  brought  with 
him,  probably,  the  instructions  he  had  received  ;  and  he 
could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  have  more  under- 
standing than  all  his  teachers. 

"In  these  peculiar  circumstances,  I  adopted  what 
may  be  thought  a  peculiar  expedient.  I  proposed  to 
the  council,  that,  before  ordination,  the  candidate 
should  pledge  himself  to  a  serious  and  prayerful  re- 
examination of  the  questionable  points;  and  I  engaged 
in  this  case  to  withdraw  my  objection.     This  course 


192  BELLEVILLE   ORDINATION. 

appeared  to  me  to  be  kind  and  faithful  to  the  candidate, 
and  not  unfaithful  to  the  cause  of  truth.  It  might  ac- 
complish the  very  end  in  view.  It  would  certainly 
have  involved  a  testimony  of  the  council  against  the 
errors  which  were  disclosed  by  the  examination." 

The  "Christian  Register"  (Unitarian)  made  some 
comments  on  this,  which  are,  perhaps,  admissible 
here :  — 

"Towards  Dr.  Dana  personally,  we  feel  no  other 
sentiments  than  those  of  sincere  esteem  and  respect. 
We  look  upon  him  as  one  of  the  best  representatives 
of  piety  formed  under  the  old  regimen,  and  wish  there 
were  many  more  like  him.  The  goodness  of  his  heart 
appears  above  the  dogmas  of  his  understanding,  in  ex- 
pressing his  belief  that  the  young  candidate,  whom  he 
regarded  as  unsound  in  the  faith,  was,  nevertheless,  in 
his  estimation,  "intelligent,  amiable,  and  hopefully 
pious."  With  Dr.  Dana's  uncompromising  hostility  to 
the  new  school  theology,  and  to  whatsoever  in  his 
opinion  is  contrary  to  the  form  of  sound  words,  he 
unites  great  tenderness  of  spirit.  Undoubtedly  there 
is  no  one  of  the  numerous  individuals  concerned  who 
has  felt  sincerer  or  deeper  grief  than  himself  for  the 
step  he  felt  obliged  to  take  ;  and  for  our  own  part, 
though  we  do  not  actually  know  that  Dr.  Dana  would 
be  ready  to  concede  piety  to  those  who,  like  ourelves, 
have  gone  so  far  beyond  his  standard  of  orthodoxy, 
we  should,  nevertheless,  feel  surer  of  his  charity  than 
that  of  not  a  few  New  School  men  whom  we  could 
name. 

"  There  is,  in  the  letter,  one  sentence  in  which  the 
doctor's  uncompromising  hostility  to  error  is  very  ap- 
parent :    we  mean  no  disrespect  if  we  should  call  it  a 


BELLEVILLE   ORDINATION.  193 

manifestation  of  a  little  "  original  sin,"  or,  more  fami- 
liarly, of  the  old  Adam.  It  is  in  his  allusion  to  Ando- 
ver,  in  which  he  says,  "  the  young  gentleman  brought 
with  him  the  instructions  he  received,  and  he  could  not 
reasonably  be  expected  to  have  more  understanding 
than  all  his  teachers?  Those  who  know,  that,  since  Dr. 
Woods  has  ceased  to  be  an  active  professor,  the  old 
school  theology  has  all  died  out  of  Andover,  will  ap- 
preciate the  keenness  of  Dr.  Dana's  sarcasm.  And 
yet  if  Professor  Stuart  or  Professor  Park,  or  any  others 
of  the  present  Faculty,  were  to  die,  we  believe  that  no 
man  in  or  out  of  New  England,  would  be  more  ready 
to  acknowledge  their  piety,  or  more  sincerely  hope  he 
should  meet  them  in  heaven." 

The  unknown  writer  of  the  above  was  not  wrong  in 
his  judgment  of  Dr.  Dana's  character,  and  of  the  motives 
and  spirit  of  his  course  in  defence  of  the  old  divinity. 
Those  who  knew  him  intimately,  knew  that  his  zeal 
was  not  that  of  the  polemic  or  of  the  partisan.  When 
his  position  in  the  New  England  of  late  times  became, 
necessarily,  one  of  antagonism  to  new  theories  which 
he  considered  as  infringing  upon  divine  truth,  he  ac- 
cepted the  position,  with  all  its  disquietudes,  as  a  sim- 
ple matter  of  duty.  One  proof  of  the  purity  and 
elevation  of  his  principles  was,  that  the  question  of 
numbers  never  weighed  with  him  in  the  least.  It  made 
no  difference  as  to  his  course  (whatever  it  might  as  to 
his  feelings),  whether  he  had  a  majority  with  him,  or 
was  left  to  stand  alone. 

The  extract  above  given,  from  "  The  Register "  of 
Feb.  5,  1848,  bears  a  singular  relation,  in  point 
of  time,  as  well  as  in  other  respects,  to  the  following 
memorandum  :  — 

17 


194  LYCEUM. 

"March  1,  1848. — Yesterday,  father  returned  from 
Andover,  where  he  had  had  two  interviews  with  Pro- 
fessor Stuart,  who  was  ill  and  in  low  spirits.  The 
Professor  received  him  very  affectionately,  and,  in  the 
course  of  the  interview,  said  to  him,  that,  if  he  had  ever 
wounded  his  feelings  in  any  way,  he  regretted  it  sin- 
cerely. Father  assured  him  that  his  feelings  of  kind- 
ness toward  him  had  never  been  interrupted  in  the 
least.  At  the  second  interview,  after  praying  with  him, 
my  father,  saying  that  he,  too,  was  drawing  near  the 
grave,  asked  for  himself  a  remembrance  in  Professor 
Stuart's  prayers  ;  to  which  he  replied,  '  I  should  be 
very  ungrateful  if  I  did  not  pray  for  you.'  My  father 
was  much  affected  by  this  interview." 

On  the  proposed  list  of  lecturers  before  the  New- 
bnryport  Lyceum,  in  1848,  was  the  name  of  one  of  dis- 
tinguished ability;  but  whose  teachings  were  unsound 
in  the  extreme.  Doubtless,  regarding  this  as  one  of  the 
prevalent  and  most  fatal  methods  of  undermining  re- 
ligious faith,  Dr.  Dana  publicly  took  ground  against  it. 
After  referring  to  the  lecturer's  pantheistic  doctrines, 
and  quoting  his  exceedingly  irreverent  language  as  to 
our  Saviour,  he  says,  — 

"Judge,  now,  my  friends,  whether,  with  these  facts 
full  before  me,  I  had  sufficient  reason  to  enter  a  caveat 
against  a  lecturer  of  this  description.  Was  it  bigotry 
or  fanaticism  ?  or  was  it  such  a  regard  for  the  cause 
of  truth,  and  for  your  best  interests,  as  a  minister  not 
recreant  to  the  claims  of  his  office,  might  naturally  be 
expected  to  feel  ? 

"  It  has  given  me,  I  repeat  it,  inexpressible  pain  to 
speak  reproachfully  of  an  individual  who  has  once  sus- 
tained  the  character  of  a  Christian  minister,  and  who 


SERMON.  195 

is  now  regarded  by  numbers  as  a  sprightly  and  attract- 
ive writer;  but  the  demands  of  truth,  of  piety,  and  of 
real  benevolence,  seemed  imperious  and  decisive.  I 
have  likewise  the  melancholy  satisfaction  of  not  having 
treated  him  so  disrespectfully  as  he  has  treated  the 
Saviour.  Nor  would  I  overlook  the  wonderful  and  in- 
structive example  of  that  Saviour,  who  spent  his 
dying  breath  in  supplicating  for  his  enemies,  'Father, 
forgive  them ;  for  they  know  not  what  they  do.'" 

In  1849,  he  acceded  to  the  wish  of  several  friends, 
in  the  publication  of  a  sermon,  prepared  some  years 
before.  We  give  an  extended  extract  from  this,  as 
better  representing  the  general  spirit  of  his  preaching, 
than  many  of  those  printed  discourses,  the  subject  of 
which  was  dictated  by  the  occasion. 

From  the  text,  Rev.  v.  9,  "  And  they  sung  a  new 
song"  after  presenting  the  song  itself  as  "  a  hymn  of 
praise  to  the  divine  Redeemer,"  he  thus  discourses  :  — 

"  Further :  the  redeemed,  while  celebrating  the  glo- 
ries of  their  Saviour,  celebrate  with  peculiar  emphasis 
his  sufferings  and  death.  These  constitute  the  burden 
of  their  everlasting  song.  '  Thou  art  worthy,'  say 
they,  '  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open  the  seals  thereof; 
for  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God,  by 
thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred  and  tongue  and  peo-. 
pie  and  nation  ;  and  hast  made  us  unto  our  God  kings 
and  priests :  and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth.  Here 
the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ  have  a  prominence 
which  strikingly  illustrates  their  infinite  moment  and 
worth.  They  are  acknowledged  by  the  redeemed  as 
the  grand  procuring  cause  of  their  salvation,  as  the 
source  of  all  their  blessings,  and  joys,  and  honors,  in 
time  and  eternity.     In  their  Saviour's  blood,  they  have 


196  SERMON. 

a  real  redemption ;  redemption  from  sin,  and  all  its 
dreadful  consequences ;  redemption  to  God,  and  to  im- 
mortal glory.  They  do  not  regard  the  death  of  Christ, 
as  it  has  been  too  often  regarded,  merely  as  an  exam- 
ple of  submission,  or  as  a  seal  of  the  truth  of  his  doc- 
trines, or  as  a  mere  exhibition  of  God's  regard  for  his 
law,  or  as  placing  sinners  within  the  reach  of  pardon. 

"  But  they  regard  it  as  a  proper  atonement  for  sin, 
and  the  meritorious  price  of  all  spiritual  and  eternal 
blessings  for  his  people.  Such  is  the  doctrine  uni- 
formly and  most  explicitly  taught  throughout  the  Sa- 
cred Scriptures.  Such  is  the  foundation  on  which  the 
pious  of  every  age  have  reposed  with  confidence  for 
time  and  for  eternity.  Deny  the  atonement,  and 
you  blot  out  the  grand  peculiarity  of  the  gospel,  you 
blot  out  the  sun  from  the  spiritual  heavens,  and  you 
tear  from  the  bosom  of  the  Christian  his  dearest  hope. 
Deny  the  atonement,  and  you  restore  to  death  its 
sting,  and  to  the  grave  its  baleful  victory.  Deny  the 
atonement,  and  you  rob  the  Saviour  of  his  highest 
glory;  while  you  strike  a  note  of  harshest  discord  with 
the  eternal  song  of  the  redeemed. 

"But  why  is  this  song  styled  in  the  text  a  new 
song  ? 

"We  reply,  first,  Because  there  was  a  period  when 
it  was  literally  new  to  heaven  itself.  The  Church,  un- 
der the  ancient  dispensation,  celebrated  the  glories  of 
God  the  Creator.  They  gave  him  honor  for  all  his 
wonders  of  power  and  mercy  wrought  in  their  behalf. 
Especially  did  they  celebrate  in  strains  of  rapture  the 
deliverance  of  his  church  from  Egypt,  —  the  type  of  a 
more  glorious  redemption  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and 
Satan.     And  all  the  pious  of  ancient  time  looked  for- 


SERMON.  197 

ward  to  the  clay  of  the  Messiah  with  humble  faith  and 
joyful  anticipation.  From  the  redemption  he  was  to 
accomplish,  they  derived  all  their  comfort  in  life,  their 
support  in  death,  and  their  hope  of  immortal  glory. 
But  they  could  not  celebrate  this  great  work  as 
actually  finished  ;  nor,  before  the  advent  of  Christ, 
could  even  the  Church  triumphant  celebrate  the  price 
of  its  ransom  and  its  glory  as  actually  paid.  But 
when  the  Son  of  God  appeared  in  flesh ;  and  when, 
having  expired  on  the  cross  as  a  sacrifice,  he  re-ascended 
to  heaven,  clothed  with  all  his  mediatorial  offices  and 
glories,  —  then  a  new  scene  commenced  ;  a  new  lustre 
gladdened  the  regions  of  immortal  light;  new  rap- 
tures of  joy  were  poured  into  the  hearts  of  its  blest  in- 
habitants. They  beheld  in  the  midst  of  them  the 
Friend,  the  Saviour,  who  had  recently  died,  in  unut- 
terable agony,  for  their  redemption.  They  beheld, 
even  in  his  glorified  body,  the  signatures  of  those  suffer- 
ings, perhaps  the  scars  of  those  wounds,  to  which  they 
traced  their  immortal  salvation.  Hence  their  new 
anthems  of  praise.  Hence  their  new  song,  —  a  sonc 
unheard,  even  in  heaven  before  :  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain."  "Thou  hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by 
thy  blood." 

"  Again :  it  is  called  a  nexo  song,  on  account  of  its 
transcendent  excellence.  Such,  sometimes,  is  the  im- 
port and  force  of  the  term  employed.  When  the 
Psalmist  exclaims,  in  a  rapture  of  devotion,  "Oh,  sino- 
unto  the  Lord  a  new  song,"  he  calls  for  a  sti'ain  of 
praise  more  grand  and  sublime  than  any  which  had 
been  known  before,  —  praise  which  might  correspond 
with  the  new  and  transcendent  display  of  divine  glory 
and  goodness.  The  song  of  the  redeemed  far  tran- 
17* 


198  SERMON. 

scends  in  excellence  all  other  songs.  It  converses  with 
the  brightest  glories  of  the  Deity.  It  celebrates  the 
most  sublime  and  stupendous  of  all  his  works,  myste- 
ries into  which  angels  desire  to  look,  a  scheme  of  re- 
demption which  employed  the  counsels  of  Heaven  from 
eternity ;  and  which,  in  its  gradual  development,  dis- 
plays such  unsearchable  riches  of  wisdom  and  power, 
such  matchless  combinations  of  majesty  and  condescen- 
sion, truth  and  mercy,  purity  and  love,  as  are  calcu- 
lated to  pour  a  flood  of  rapture  into  the  astonished 
mind,  and  to  call  forth  all  its  faculties,  and  all  its  af- 
fections, to  their  highest  possible  exercise. 

"  In  a  word,  it  may  well  be  called  a  new  song,  as  it 
will  never  become  old ;  never  lose  its  attractions ; 
never  cease  to  supply,  to  the  most  enlarged  and  exalted 
minds,  materials  for  delightful  contemplation.  There 
are  few  themes,  my  hearers,  which  are  absolutely  inex- 
haustible. Most  of  the  subjects  of  our  contemplation,  as 
they  lose  their  novelty,  lose,  likewise,  their  attractions. 
Some  subjects  which  have  attracted,  and  even  sur- 
prised us  for  a  while,  have,  on  a  more  familiar  acquaint- 
ance, left  us  no  ground  of  wonder,  excepting  our 
former  admiration.  Far  different  in  all  these  respects 
is  the  subject  of  redemption.  To  the  transient  and  su- 
perficial observer,  it  exhibits  little  to  surprise,  or  to 
interest ;  but  to  the  careful,  devoted  student,  it  dis- 
closes unsuspected  beauties  and  unknown  wonders. 
Every  accession  of  knowledge  imparts  new  delight,  and 
excites  new  astonishment  ;  and  he  who  has  pene- 
trated farthest  into  the  mysteries  of  this  divine  theme 
is  most  convinced  that  it  is  absolutely  exhaustless; 
that  it  contains  new  mysteries,  not  only  undiscovered, 
but,  by  finite  minds,  absolutely  uiidiscoverable.     Yes  : 


SERMON.  199 

in  the  love  of  Jesus,  there  is  a  height  and  a  depth,  a 
length  and  a  breadth,  calculated  to  afford  everlasting 
employment  to  the  ever  expanding,  ever  active  mind  of 
man ;  calculated  to  call  forth  an  admiration  forever 
fresh,  and  a  song  forever  new.  .  .  . 

"  And  with   what  emotions  do  they  sing  this  new 
song  ? 

"Doubtless  the  language  of  mortals  is  very  inade- 
quate to  express  them.  Nor  can  we  even  form  a  con- 
ception on  the  subject,  which  will  not  fall  far  short  of 
the  reality.  Still  we  may  be  assured  that  the  spirit 
which  animates  the  new  song  is  a  spirit  of  the  pro- 
foundest  humility  and  self-abasement.  For  what  were 
those  who  chant  it,  once,  but  rebels  against  their  God, 
and  ingrates  to  their  Saviour?  And  rebels  and  in- 
grates  they  would  have  continued  forever,  —  wretched 
by  their  own  depravity,  doubly  wretched  by  their 
Maker's  frown,  —  but  for  his  own  sovereign  and  aston- 
ishing mercy.  This  they  feel ;  and  this  they  can  never 
forget.  They  felt  and  confessed  it  while  on  earth ; 
but,  in  heaven,  their  views  of  their  unworthiness  are 
vastly  strengthened  and  enlarged.  The  glories  of  a 
present  Deity  dart  on  their  minds  new  convictions  of 
the  malignity  and  odiousness  of  sin.  And  when  they 
recollect  how  low  they  were  originally  sunk  in  guilt ; 
how  long  they  resisted  the  call  of  heavenly  mercy  ;  and 
what  poor  returns  they  rendered,  even  after  their  con- 
version, to  the  Saviour  who  redeemed  them  by  his 
blood,  and  conquered  their  hearts  by  his  power,  —  how 
deep,  how  overwhelming,  must  be  their  abasement ! 
With  what  ardor  must  they  breathe  out  the  confession, 
that,  not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  they  have 
done,  but  according  to  the  riches  of  heavenly  mercy, 


200  SERMON. 

they  are  saved !  With  what  overwhelming  sensibility 
must  they  exclaim,  iN'ot  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  but  to  thy 
name,  be  glory  !  ' 

"  Hence  we  remark,  that  in  proportion  to  their  self- 
abasement,,  will  be  their  love  and  gratitude  to  their  Sa- 
viour. All  their  views  of  the  guilt  in  which  they  were 
originally  involved,  of  the  depravity  by  which  they 
were  enchained,  of  the  wrath  to  which  they  stood  ex- 
posed, of  the  awful,  endless  ruin  which  they  deserved, 
and  of  the  astonishing  delivei'ance  which  they  have  ex- 
perienced, will  but  enhance  their  sense  of  their  Sa- 
viour's love.  And  when  they  contemplate  the  aston- 
ishing forms  in  which  that  love  has  been  expressed  ; 
when  they  behold  in  his  sacred  body,  now  glorified,  the 
memorials  of  the  sufferings  which  he  endured  for  them, 

—  the  prints  of  the  nails,  and  the  spear, —  with  what 
a  tide  of  grateful  emotions  must  they  be  overwelmed  ! 
How  must  they  pour  out  their  very  hearts  in  the  song, 
Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain !  Thou  hast  re- 
deemed us  to  God  by  thy  blood!  To  thee,  bleeding 
Saviour,  we  owe  all  our  salvation  and  all  our  bliss. 
Thy  dying  agonies  have  redeemed  us  from  eternal 
death.  To  thy  cross  are  we  indebted  for  these  spot- 
less robes  of  righteousness,  these  palms  of  victory, 
these  crowns  of  unfading  glory,  these  rivers  of  immor- 
tal delight. 

"In  fine,  the  redeemed  sing  the  new  song  with  unut- 
terable emotions  of  exultingjoy.  If,  while  on  earth,  it 
was  delightful  to  celebrate  their  Redeemer's  praise  ; 
if  they  esteemed  those  the  brightest  and  most  privi- 
leged moments  of  life,  in  which  they  could  pour  their 
hearts  in  gratitude  to  an  unseen  and  distant  Saviour, 

—  what  must  it  be  to  find  themselves  in  his  immediate 


SERMON.  201 

presence;  to  behold  him  face  to  face ;  to  perceive, 
yes,  to  see  him,  listening  with  infinite  condescension  and 
complacency  to  their  songs  of  praise  ?  If  the  distant 
and  trembling  hope  of  heavenly  blessedness  was  once 
so  transporting,  what  must  its  actual  and  full  posses- 
sion be?  To  look  back  on  unutterable  woes  escaped  ; 
to  experience  an  overflowing  fulness  of  present  delight ; 
and  to  know,  with  undoubting  certainty,  that  this  de- 
light will  experience  neither  interruption  nor  end,  — 
what  varied  sources  of  happiness  are  here !  But  these  are 
not  the  only  sources  of  happiness  to  the  glorified  saint. 
He  enters,  with  a  sacred  and  generous  sympathy,  into 
the  joys  and  felicities  of  his  fellow-heirs  of  salvation. 
He  is  transported  to  find  himself  in  the  midst  of  an  im- 
mense assembly  in  which  every  heart  glows  with  ex- 
alted affection  to  his  Redeemer,  and  every  tongue  is 
employed  in  celebrating  his  glory.  Above  all  is  he 
transported  to  see  that  once  humbled  and  suffering 
Redeemer  re-invested  with  his  heavenly  felicities ; 
wearing  those  peculiar  and  immortal  honors  which  his 
death  has  purchased  ;  receiving  the  humblest,  loftiest 
ascriptions  of  praise,  not  only  from  his  ransomed  peo- 
ple, but  from  angels  and  archangels,  and  from  the 
whole  creation  of  God. 

.  .  .  "  The  subject  reminds  us  of  the  transcendent  ex- 
cellence of  the  religion  of  the  gospel,  and  its  perfect 
adaptation  to  our  race.  Surely  the  spirit  which  ani- 
mates the  songs  and  felicities  of  the  blest  above,  must 
constitute  the  essential,  the  vital  spirit  of  religion. 
And  what  is  this  but  genuine  humility  ?  Those  beati- 
fied souls  that  behold  and  enjoy  the  unveiled  glories  of 
the  Deity,  sink  proportion  ably  low  in  self-abasement. 
This  is  their  happiness.     This  is  their  heaven.     Take 


202  SERMON. 

from  them  their  overwhelming  sense  of  obligation  for 
redeeming  mercy,  and  the  happiness  of  glorified  saints 
would  be  far  inferior  to  that  of  angels.  But  we  know 
from  the  infallible  Word  that  it  will  be  far  superior. 
The  remembrance  of  their  original  guilt  and  ruin,  and 
of  that  unutterable  love  by  which  they  have  been  re- 
deemed, is  ever  fresh  in  their  bosoms.  It  gives  a 
sweetness  to  their  songs,  an  elevation  to  their  joys, 
which  angels  cannot  reach;  and,  while  it  exalts  them 
in  bliss,  it  sinks  them  low  in  humility.  This  is  the 
spirit  of  heaven  ;  and  this,  be  it  remembered,  is  the 
grand  essential  preparation  for  heaven.  None  who 
are  destitute  of  a  tender,  grateful,  abasing  sense  of  the 
Saviour's  condescending,  dying  love,  can  join  in  the 
everlasting  song  of  the  redeemed.  None  who  possess 
it  can  possibly  fail  of  attaining  this  sublime  felicity. 

"  The  same  humility  which  prepares  for  heaven,  and 
which  characterizes  the  felicity  of  heaven,  is  the  source 
of  the  best  enjoyment  on  earth.  It  is  this  which  gives 
a  zest  to  every  present  comfort,  while  it  gently  extracts 
the  sting  from  every  affliction.  Feeling  that,  as  sin- 
ners, we  have  forfeited  the  mercy  of  Heaven,  we  re- 
ceive the  bounties  of  Providence  with  tender  and  de- 
lightful gratitude.  Conscious  that,  as  sinners,  Ave  merit 
only  frowns  and  wrath,  we  bear  the  common  trials  of 
life,  and  even  its  severest  calamities,  with  uncomplain- 
ing submission. 

"Who  does  not  know  that  the  neglect  and  reproach 
which  we  often  receive  from  fellow-creatures  are  acu- 
minated chiefly  by  our  own  unsubdued  pride?  The 
proud  man  is  a  kind  of  sensitive-plant,  shrinking  from 
every  touch,  chilled  and  shrivelled  by  every  wind  that 
blows ;  while  the   humble  man  finds  shelter  and  com- 


SERMON.  203 

fort  in  his  own  calm  and  undisturbed  spirit.  While  tbe 
one,  too,  groans  under  the  self-imposed  burden  of  re- 
sentment for  every  real  or  fancied  injury,  the  other 
effectually  eludes  the  trouble  by  cherishing  a  meek  and 
forgiving  spirit. 

"  So  true  is  it,  that  that  religion  which  trains  us  for 
heaven  is  our  best  friend  while  we  remain  below.  It 
puts  a  crown  on  all  our  comforts.  It  facilitates  the 
exercise  of  our  best  and  most  difficult  virtues.  It  re- 
moves, or  it  greatly  mitigates,  our  afflictions.  The 
man  who  lives  daily  on  the  promises,  feasts  daily  on 
the  bread  of  heaven.  The  man  who,  with  his  Saviour, 
can  pray  for  his  enemies,  '  Father,  forgive  them;  for 
they  know  not  what  they  do]  —  this  man  is  but  a  single 
remove  from  his  Saviour's  presence  in  glory." 
In  another  part  of  this  discourse,  he  says,  — 
"  I  cannot  persuade  myself  to  leave  this  delightful 
subject,  without  offering  a  word  on  the  dignity  and 
importance  of  sacred  music,  considered  as  a  part  of 
the  worship  of  God  in  the  earthly  sanctuary.  We 
have  seen  that  glorified  saints  above  celebrate  the 
praises  of  their  God  and  Redeemer  in  a  song.  Thus 
they  express  their  emotions  of  impassioned  gratitude 
and  holy  love.  This  is  their  unceasing  employment, 
their  sublime  felicity.  Nor  is  there  any  employment 
on  earth  in  which  we  make  so  near  an  approach  to 
the  work  and  bliss  of  heaven,  as  that  in  which  we  sing, 
with  pious  fervor  and  delight,  the  praises  of  God ;  for 
here  we  concentrate  all' the  powers  of  our  nature,  our 
spiritual  faculties  and  our  bodily  organs,  in  the  same 
service,  and  that  of  the  noblest  kind.  The  excellent 
President  Edwards  informs  us,  that,  in  a  great  revival 
of  religion  in  Northampton,  the   pious   people  spent 


204  SERMON. 

much  time  in  singing  ;  and  that  they  found  the  em- 
ployment remarkably  efficacious  to  excite  their  reli- 
gious affections,  and  to  bring  down  something  of  heaven 
to  earth.  Nor  can  it  be  denied,  that  there  is  that 
in  sacred  music  which  is  peculiarly  fitted  to  solemnize 
and  elevate  the  mind,  to  disenchain  it  from  earthly 
objects,  and  to  rouse  all  its  best  and  holiest  affections 
into  vigorous  exercise.  If  such  is  the  high  office  of 
sacred  music,  it  ought  surely  to  be  considered  as  some- 
thing very  different  from  a  mere  gratification  of  sense, 
or  a  mere  amusement  of  the  fancy.  To  regard  it  in 
this  light,  is  to  degrade  it.  It  is  irreverent,  not  to  say 
profane  ;  for  it  is  to  pervert  a  divine  ordinance  to  the 
purpose  of  mere  unhallowed  gratification.  Never  let 
it  be  forgotten,  that,  when  we  engage  in  sacred  music, 
we  professedly  place  ourselves  in  the  immediate  pres- 
ence of  the  Deity.  We  make  a  particular  and  solemn 
address  to  that  awful  Being  with  whom  is  the  breath 
of  our  life,  and  the  destiny  of  our  immortal  souls. 
Nothing  can  be  more  evident  than  that,  in  such  cir- 
cumstances, the  utmost  reverence  is  indispensably  in- 
cumbent. If,  as  all  must  acknowledge,  an  air  of 
thoughtlessness  and  levity,  while  we  are  engaged  in 
prayer,  is  a  species  of  impiety,  why  should  it  be  thought 
less  so  when  we  are  engaged  in  praise  ?  Who  that  con- 
templates the  profound  solemnity  and  awe  which  per- 
vades the  worship  of  glorified  saints  and  angels  in 
heaven,  can  avoid  being  pained  at  the  irreverence  mani- 
fested in  some  private  circles,  and  even  in  some- 
Christian  assemblies,  while  praise  is  sung  to  the  eternal 
and  omnipresent  Jehovah?  Is  it  not  likewise  to  be 
regretted,  that  the  performance  of  this  interesting 
part  of  divine  worship  should  be  confined,  as  it  too 


SERMON.  205 

generally  is,  to  a  very  small  portion  of  the  assembly  ? 
Why  should  it  be  so?  Is  not  singing  the  praises  of 
God  a  divine  ordinance  ?  Has  the  Christian  Church 
fewer  materials  and  incentives  for  praise  than  were 
possessed  by  the  Jewish  Church  ?  If  a  very  small  por- 
tion in  our  assemblies  are  constitutionally  debarred 
from  an  active  part  in  this  work,  shall  the  great  ma- 
jority, who  have  no  such  disqualification,  remain  silent  ? 
Grant  that  accuracy  and  grace  of  performance  are 
desirable,  shall  all  be  excluded  who  do  not  completely 
rise  to  this  standard  ?  Or  shall  a  change  in  the  tunes 
employed  be  so  exceedingly  frequent  as  to  constrain 
nearly  the  whole  congregation  to  be  mere  silent 
hearers? 

"It  is  likewise  important  that  the  music  employed  in 
the  worship  of  God,  should  possess  a  character  and 
style  adapted  to  this  high  and  sacred  purpose.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  such  is  not  the  description  of  all 
music.  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  tunes,  which,  for  many  years,  have  been 
employed  in  our  congregations,  are  destitute  of  most 
of  the  attributes  which  should  recommend  them  to 
the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  Far  from  being  fraught 
with  that  dignity,  simplicity,  and  tenderness  which  are 
fitted  to  excite  and  to  express  the  best  emotions  of 
the  soul,  they  have  tended  rather  to  dissipate  serious 
thought,  to  chill  the  ardor  of  devotion,  to  disgust  cul- 
tivated minds,  and  to  gratify  only  the  frivolous  and  the 
gay.  They  may  fill  the  ear,  and  they  may  gratify  a 
vagrant  fimcy;  but  they  starve  the  mind.  It  is,  how- 
ever, consoling  to  reflect  that  tunes  of  this  description 
are,  in  many  instances,  sinking  into  merited  disregard ; 
and  that  a  taste  —  perhaps  I  may  say  a  demand —  for 

18 


206  DANIEL    WEBSTER. 

music  of  a  dignified  and  impressive  character  is  dif- 
fusing-itself  in  various  regions  of  our  country. 

"Is  it  not  desirable,  too,  that,  with  a  change  so  aus- 
picious in  the  matter  of  our  psalmody,  there  should  be 
a  correspondent  improvement  in  the  style  of  execu- 
tion ?  —  an  improvement  which  shall  render  the  music 
of  our  public  assemblies  what  it  ought  to  be,  —  one  of 
the  most  solemn,  impressive,  delightful,  and  edifying 
parts  of  the  whole  service.  It  is  a  sad  and  humbling 
evidence  of  the  earthliness  of  our  minds,  that  we  are 
so  capable  of  celebrating,  with  little  emotion,  the  glo- 
ries of  the  Deity,  and  the  wonders  of  his  creating 
power  and  providential  goodness.  Still  more  humbling 
is  it  to  reflect,  that  those  mysteries  of  redeeming  love 
which  fill  angelic  minds  with  admiration,  and  glorified 
saints  with  rapture,  should  so  often  leave  our  hearts 
insensible  and  cold.  Oh  !  when  shall  it  be  otherwise  ? 
When  shall  we  see  a  whole  assembly  animated  with 
the  spirit  of  pure  devotion,  and  pouring  the  fervor  of 
their  inmost  hearts  into  the  songs  of  Zion?  When 
shall  the  praises  of  the  earthly  sanctuary  afford  an 
emblem  and  anticipation  of  the  songs  and  felicities  of 
heaven?" 

When  the  speech  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  in  the 
United  States  Senate,  March  7, 1850,  had  alienated  from 
him  the  popular  majority  in  New  England,  Dr.  Dana 
joined  with  a  large  number  of  the  most  respectable 
citizens  of  Newburyport  in  addressing  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Webster,  warmly  approving  his  course.  "We  honor 
especially"  (say  they)  "  the  courageous  patriotism  which 
pervades  it ;  recalling  to  a  due  sense  of  their  constitu- 
tional obligations  the  North  as  well  as  the  South."  To 
this  letter,  Mr.  Webster  gave  a  printed  reply.     His 


DANIEL    WEBSTER.  207 

high  regard  for  Dr.  Dana  had  been  often  expressed. 
The  last  indication  of  it,  probably,  was  the  address  on 
the  cover  of  the  speech  of  March  7:  "My  dear 
Dr.  Dana,  will  you  accept  this  as  a  testimonial  of 
my  great  respect  and  my  most  affectionate  regard."1 
The  handwriting  of  the  great  statesman  appears  in  a 
similar  but  more  extended  note,  accompanying  a  copy 
of  his  speech  at  Philadelphia,  in  1846. 

After  Mr.  Webster's  death,  Dr.  Dana,  writing  to  Mr. 
J.  H.  Williams  (son  of  his  first  successor  at  Newbury- 
port),  who  had  favored  him  with  an  account  of  the  cele- 
bration at  New  York,  in  1855,  of  Mr.  Webster's  birth- 
day, says  — 

"As  to  the  reproach  poured  on  Mr.  Webster  in 
the  closing  part  of  his  life,  I  have  ever  thought  it  most 
grossly  unmerited.  I  never  could  perceive  that  it  was 
occasioned  by  any  thing  else  than  his  inalienable  attach- 
ment to  the  Constitution,  and  his  conscientious,  invin- 
cible determination  to  do  his  duty." 

In  April,  1851,  he  delivered  at  Bedford,  N.H.,  a  ser- 
mon before  the  Londonderry  Presbytery,  from  Matt. 
ix.  15,  which  was  published  at  their  request.  In  it  he 
says,  — 

"  I  advert,  with  inexpressible  reluctance,  to  a  practice 
which  increasingly  prevails  in  our  cities,  and  from 
which  I  pray  God  that  our  country  congregations  may 
keep  themselves  pure.  I  refer  to  the  custom  of  sitting 
in  prayer  ;  a  custom  sanctioned  neither  by  piety  nor 
decorum;  a  custom  which  would  almost  seem  to  say 
that  we  have  worshipped  our  Maker  with  too  much 
reverence  in  former  time,  and  may  now  approach,  on 
terms  of  greater  familiarity,  the  High  and  Holy  One 
whom  prostrate  angels  adore.       Many  pious  persons 


208  REMONSTRANCE. 

have,  doubtless,  been  insensibly  betrayed  into  the  habit. 
But  it  must  be  hoped,  that,  on  consideration,  they  will 
abandon  it;  or,  at  least,  that  their  example  will  prove 
as  little  contagious  as  possible." 

To  his  daughter  in  Ohio,  he  writes  :  — 

"  Newburypokt,  Aug.  26,  1852. 

"My  dear  Daughter,  .  .  .  While  I  feel  it  to 
be  no  small  self-denial,  that  we  can  enjoy  your 
company  so  little,  I  am  afflicted,  too,  on  your 
account,  that  you  are  so  far  removed  from  the 
friends  you  most  love ;  but  I  have  observed  with 
much  satisfaction,  that  you  seem,  in  a  good  measure, 
reconciled  to  the  disposing  will  of  God  in  the  case. 
Indeed,  my  dear  child,  you  are  doubtless  convinced,  that, 
without  an  absolute  submission  to  the  will  of  Heaven, 
we  have  no  adequate  source  of  real  enjoyment.  And 
you  have  found,  too,  I  trust,  that  this  spirit  of  resigna- 
tion can  reconcile  us  to  many  things  which  would 
otherwise  be  scarcely  tolerable,  and  can  furnish,  by 
itself,  an  unfailing  soui'ce  of  satisfaction. 

.  "  I  go  to  Andover  next  week  ;  but  almost 
with  the  feeblest  possible  hope  of  accomplishing  any 
thing  which  I  wish. 

"  Your  very  affectionate  father, 

"D.Dana. 

"  Mrs.  Lydia  C.  Tucker." 

In  1853,  he  published  his  "Remonstrance,  addressed 
to  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy,  on  the  state  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  under  their  care."  It  had 
been  presented  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  Septem- 
ber, 1849.  Its  publication  is  prefaced  with  the  follow- 
ing observations :  — 


REMONSTRANCE.  209 

"It  is  with  a  reluctance  not  to  be  expressed,  that  the 
writer  gives  publicity  to  the  following  Remonstrance. 
Nothing,  probably,  would  have  reconciled  him  to  the 
measure,  but  the  decided  opinion  and  advice  of  minis- 
terial brethren  of  the  highest  respectability,  who  have 
thought  that  he  owed  it  to  himself,  to  the  religious 
public,  and  to  the  cause  of  God,  and  his  truth. 

"In  the  sacred  Seminary  brought  to  view,  he  has 
ever  felt  the  profoundest  interest.  To  witness  its  best 
prosperity,  and,  in  his  humble  way,  to  promote  it,  has 
been  his  delight.  These  objects  have  been,  and  are 
still,  very  near  his  heart.  Should  any  suggest  an  in- 
consistency between  these  avowals  of  feeling,  and  the 
present  publication,  he  has  a  brief  and  simple  reply. 
He  has  been  able  to  discover  no  more  natural  and 
efficacious  method  of  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the 
Seminary,  than  steadily  and  vigorously  to  befriend  the 
great  princi%)les  on  which  it  was  established,  the  known 
designs  of  its  noble  founders,  and  the  sublime  objects 
to  which  they  devoted  their  aims.  If  there  is  a  mode 
of  accomplishing  the  object  more  direct  and  unequivo- 
cal than  this,  let  it  be  pointed  out. 

"To  his  brethren  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  he  has 
aimed  to  manifest  all  due  respect ;  and  this  is  still  his  aim. 
He  hopes  he  has  never  departed  from  this  line.  While 
painfully  constrained  to  say  that  their  course,  for  some 
years,  has  been  to  him  mysterious  and  inexplicable,  he 
has  never  denied  that  they  have  been  governed  by 
their  own  convictions  of  duty.  While  freely  remark- 
ing on  the  tendency  of  their  measures,  he  has  never 
impeached,  nor  has  he  wished  to  impeach,  the  purity 
of  their  motives. 

"Nor  does  he  intimate  that  his  Remonstrance  has 

18* 


210  REMONSTRANCE. 

been  treated  by  them  with  entire  neglect.  But  since 
the  report  upon  it,  made  and  accepted  after  a  period  of 
two  years  from  the  time  of  its  presentation,  was,  in  his 
view,  entirely  unsatisfactory,  and  since  his  suggestions 
have  been  followed  by  no  correspondent  action  on  their 
part,  he  has  felt  himself  justified  in  this  form  of  appeal 
to  the  Christian  community." 

The  following  passages  exhibit  the  scope  of  the 
Remonstrance  :  — 

"To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy: 

"  My  respected  Brethren,  —  Having  been  hon- 
ored for  forty-five  years  with  a  seat  in  your  Board,  I 
have  ever  appreciated  highly  the  importance  of  the 
place.  Since  the  annexation  of  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary to  the  academic  establishment,  my  responsibilities 
as  a  trustee  have  appeared  to  me  as  greatly  enhanced. 
With  the  venerable  founders  of  the  Seminary  I  was 
intimately  acquainted  ;  I  knew  their  favorite  objects 
and  designs  ;  I  have  carefully  pondered  their  constitu- 
tion and  statutes ;  and  I  have  watched,  with  deep 
solicitude,  the  course  of  things  in  the  institution  from 
its  first  inception  to  the  present  time.  These  circum- 
stances, it  will  perhaps  be  conceded,  authorize  me  to 
address  you  on  the  subject  at  large,  with  a  degree  of 
plainness  and  freedom  ;  and  this  I  shall  now  attempt. 

"  The  questions  which  for  years  have  pressed  with 
inexpressible  weight  on  my  mind  are  such  as  these : 
Has  the  Seminary  answered  the  just  expectations  of 
the  public  and  the  churches  ?  Has  it  fairly  carried 
out  its  own  distinctive  and  avowed  principles  ?  Does 
it  bear  the  very  stamp  which  its  founders  designed  to 
fix  upon  it  ?  Does  it  exercise  the  precise  influence 
which  they  intended  it  should  exercise  ? 


REMONSTRANCE.  211 

"  These  are  questions,  my  brethren,  of  vital  impor- 
tance, and  of  profound  interest.  They  merit,  as  you 
will  readily  admit,  the  most  solicitous  attention  from 
us  all.  To  assist  your  minds,  as  far  as  in  my  power, 
in  forming  a  just  judgment  in  the  case,  I  will  simply 
remind  you,  in  the  first  place,  of  some  leading  provi- 
sions of  the  constitution  and  statutes. 

"The  constitution  provides  that  every  professor  in 
the  Seminary  shall  be  a  man  of  sound  and  orthodox 
principles,  according  to  the  system  of  doctrines  de- 
nominated the  Westminster  Assembly's  Shorter  Cate- 
chism. Every  professor  must,  on  the  day  of  his  inaugu- 
ration, publicly  make  and  subscribe  a  solemn  declara- 
tion of  his  faith  in  divine  revelation,  and  in  .  the 
doctrines  of  the  Assembly's  Catechism.  He  must  sol- 
emnly promise  to  defend  and  inculcate  the  Christian 
faith,  as  thus  expressed,  in  opposition  to  all  contrary 
doctrines  and  heresies.  He  must  repeat  the  declara- 
tion and  promise  at  the  close  of  every  five  years ;  and 
should  he  refuse  this,  or  should  he  teach  or  embrace  any 
of  the  proscribed  heresies  or  errors,  he  shall  be  forth- 
with removed  from  office. 

"  Such,  as  you  well  know,  are  the  provisions  of  the 
constitution.  The  associate  statutes  are  in  perfect 
accordance.  They  provide,  indeed,  an  additional 
creed,  but  a  creed  in  entire  harmony  with  the  cate- 
chism, and  no-wise  designed  to  supersede  or  invalidate 
it. 

"  Such  was  the  design  of  the  venerable  founders  of 
the  Seminary  —  a  design,  not  only  easily  understood, 
but  impossible  to  be  misunderstood.  If  there  are 
words  in  the  English  language  which  can  make  any 
thing  plain,  the  founders  have  made  plain  and  unde- 


212  BEMONSTRA  NCE. 

niable  their  intention,  that  the  doctrines  of  the  Assem- 
bly's Catechism,  which  they  viewed  as  the  doctrines  of 
the  Bible  —  that  these,  and  no  other  doctrines,  should 
be  maintained,  defended,  and  propagated  through  the 
instrumentality  of  their  seminary. 

"  Our  duty,  then,  as  trustees,  is  made  plain,  as  with 
a  sunbeam ;  and  if,  through  our  faithful  care,  the  doc- 
trines stated  have  been  uniformly  maintained,  and  dis- 
tinctly taught,  in  the  seminary,  and,  through  its  alum- 
ni, given  in  their  purity  to  the  churches,  then  has  our 
duty  been  performed.  If  these  objects  have  failed  of 
accomplishment,  we,  too,  have  failed,  in  duty,  or  in  suc- 
cess ;  and  the  great  object  of  the  Seminary  is  lost. 

"  Here  a  wide  field  of  inquiry  is  opened.  This  in- 
quiry shall  be  limited,  at  present,  to  the  latter  stages 
of  the  seminary.  Has  the  orthodox  character,  which, 
for  many  of  its  first  years,  it  maintained,  been  subse- 
quently preserved  ?  Have  the  preachers  whom  in  re- 
cent time  it  has  sent  forth,  been  signalized  and  acknowl- 
edged as  champions  of  the  doctrines  of  the  cross  ? 
Have  their  sermons  embraced  the  great  principles  of 
the  creed  of  the  seminary?  Have  they  presented  dis- 
tinct and  lucid  exhibitions  of  human  depravity,  of  re- 
generation, of  the  atonement,  of  justification  by  faith,  of 
the  nature  of  experimental  and  saving  religion  ?  That 
numbers  have  thus  preached  is  cheerfully  conceded  : 
but  they  are  in  the  minority  ;  and  this  minority  has 
been  still  decreasing  from  year  to  year. 

..."  And  now,  my  brethren,  are  we  prepared  to 
give  account  to  God  of  our  stewardship  ?  Here  is  a 
seminary  committed  to  our  hands,  most  richly  endowed, 
solemnly  consecrated,  from  the  first,  to  the  defence  and 
the  diffusion  of  sacred  truth,  of  the  doctrines  of  the 


R  EMONSTRA  NCE.  213 

gospel,  of  the  great  Reformation,  of  New  England  in 
its  best  days,  of  the  excellent  Westminster  Summary. 
Have  we  been  faithful,  and  are  we  now  faithful,  to  the 
precious  and  sacred  deposit?  Were  its  founders  now 
present,  would  they  acknowledge  our  fidelity  in  the 
execution  of  their  plans  and  wishes? 

..."  I  have  addressed  you,  my  honored  brethren, 
on  subjects  of  the  greatest  moment,  and  with  a  freedom 
and  explicitness  which  those  subjects  demand.  If,  in 
any  act  of  my  life,  I  have  deeply  felt  my  responsibility 
to  my  final  Judge,  and  earnestly  supplicated  his  guid- 
ance, it  is  in  this.  In  one  point,  I  am  confident  you 
will  do  me  justice.  If  the  convictions  I  have  uttered 
are  real  and  sincere,  they  could  not  have  been  warrant- 
ably  suppressed.  They  could  not  have  been  suppressed 
without  a  guilty  treachery.  However,  then,  they  may 
be  received,  I  think  I  can  never  regret  to  have  im- 
parted them.  The  act  may  bring  down  upon  me  re- 
proach from  professors  and  students ;  it  may  expose 
me  to  public  odium ;  it  may  greatly  imbitter  the 
closing  years,  or  rather  days,  of  my  life  ;  it  may  possibly 
lose  me  your  friendship,  my  brethren  :  still,  I  can  never 
regret  it ;  for  I  have  carefully  counted  the  cost.  In 
the  cause  of  my  Saviour  and  his  truth,  I  am  willing  to 
suffer,  and,  I  humbly  hope,  willing  to  die.  Compared 
with  these  objects,  peace,  comfort,  reputation,  life  itself, 
ought  to  be  trifles  with  me. 

"  And  now,  having  performed  what  has  long  ap- 
peared to  me  a  most  solemn  and  imperious  duty,  I  shall, 
from  this  moment,  feel  my  heart  lightened  of  a  burden 
which  has  oppressed  it  for  many  an  anxious  and  pain- 
ful year.  Should  you  give  to  my  suggestions  a  kind 
and  candid  consideration,  I  shall  be  gratified  and  grate- 


214  REMONSTRANCE. 

ful.  Should  I  be  denied  this  privilege,  I  can  only  refer 
these  momentous  affairs  to  the  period  when  we  must 
stand  together  before  the  bar  of  God.  I  have  honestly 
endeavored  to  view  the  whole  scene  in  the  light  of 
eternity.  It  is  my  earnest  prayer  that  you,  too,  my 
brethren,  may  view  it  in  the  same  awful  and  instruc- 
tive light." 

The  following,  from  a  distinguished  clergyman,  is 
one  of  several  similar  letters  received  at  this  time  :  — 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Daxa.  Dear  Brother,  —  I  have  this  mo- 
ment risen  from  the  perusal  of  your  Remonstrance 
addressed  to  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy  ;  and  I 
cannot  refrain  from  expressing  to  you  my  hearty  thanks 
for  your  courage  and  fidelity  in  making  it,  as  I  have 
to  God  for  giving  you  the  disposition  and  ability  to  do 
it.  You  have  done  well,  in  my  judgment,  in  consent- 
ing to  its  publication ;  and  I  cannot  but  believe  that  it 
will  be  of  salutary  tendency.  Having  had  my  theologi- 
cal education  at  Andover,  I  have  always  felt  deeply  in- 
terested in  its  character  and  prosperity ;  and  I  feel 
bound  to  add,  that  I  have,  for  a  considerable  time,  been 
constrained  to  believe  that  the  Seminary  has  been 
sliding  from  its  original  foundations. 

..."  May  that  great  Being  whose  truth  you  have 
vindicated  add  his  effectual  blessing,  and  restore  the 
Seminary  to  its  original  soundness  and  usefulness ! 
which  is  the  sincere  desire  and  humble  prayer  of,  dear 
sir, 

"  Your  friend  and  brother  in  the  Lord." 

In  these  later  years  of  his  life,  few  were  left  in  New 
England  who  could  sympathize  with  his  sensitiveness 
to  theological  change.  His  solicitudes  as  to  Andover 
seemed,  to  the  multitude,  exaggerated,  if  not  morbid. 


REMONSTRANCE.  215 

The  long  concentration  of  his  mind  on  these  topics 
did,  indeed,  give  them  a  prominence  in  his  thoughts 
and  conversation,  which  those  only  could  understand, 
who,  placing  spiritual  above  secular  interests,  felt,  also, 
something  of  his  own  impassioned  attachment  to  the 
older,  and  (as  he  judged)  the  simple  scriptural  forms  of 
divine  truth.  There  were  not  wanting,  however,  de- 
fenders, as  well  as  assailants,  of  the  Remonstrance. 

In  the  circle  of  his  most  interested  and  congenial 
correspondents,  in  these  years,  were  his  son-in-law, 
Rev.  J.  M.  C.  Bartley,  and  Rev.  J.  M.Whiton,  both  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Londonderry.  An  able  and  interesting 
letter,  addressed  to  him,  was  published  in  1852,  by 
Rev.  President  Lord  of  Dartmouth  College. 

Only  those  can  fully  appreciate  his  relations  to  the 
Seminary  at  Andover,  who  bear  in  mind  his  early  in- 
timacy with  its  founders  and  its  original  professors,  and 
the  part  he  had  himself  borne  in  its  organization.  He 
could  not  but  know  their  theological  views,  and  his 
own  —  their  expectations  and  his,  as  to  the  doctrinal 
position  which  the  institution  was  designed  to  hold. 
A  change  had  taken  place  in  that  position  —  a 
change,  hailed  by  some  as  improvement,  mourned  over 
by  others  as  defection.  He  who,  in  his  youth,  had 
stood  alone  in  declining  to  act,  when  action  seemed 
like  countenancing  the  milder  aberrations  of  Hopkin- 
sianism  —  how  could  he  fail  to  utter,  in  his  old  age, 
his  "  remonstrance  "  against  what  he  considered  plain 
departure  from  the  creed  which  the  founders  had 
prescribed  ? 

Those  who  have  traced  in  these  pages  his  entire 
course,  will  perhaps  concur  in  the  remark  of  one  well 
qualified  to  judge  ;  "  He  was  consistent  as  few  men 
are,  through  his  whole  life." 


CHAPTER    XV. 

1854-1859. 

His  Last  Years.  —  Celebration  at  Newbury- 
port.  —  His  Last  Publication.  —  Resignation  of 
his  Seat  in  the  Andover  Board.  —  Centennial 
at  First  Presbyterian  Church.  —  Installa- 
tion at  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  —  State 
op  Health.  —  Interview  with  the  Presbytery. 
—  His  Death. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1854,  was  a  great  clay  in  New- 
buryport.  A  call  had  previously  been  issued  to  her 
sons  and  daughters  resident  abroad  to  join  with  those 
at  home  in  a  grand  celebration.  The  invitation  was 
largely  responded  to ;  half  the  States  in  the  Union  — 
nearly  all  the  principal  cities  —  were  represented  in 
the  assemblage.  The  grand  procession,  including  a 
floral  procession,  the  decorations  of  the  streets,  the 
exercises  at  the  church,  the  dinner  (for  two  thousand 
persons),  were  all  an  admirable  success.  Liberal  scope 
was  given  in  the  arrangements  to  native  ingenuity  and 
taste,  nor  was  there  wanting  to  the  occasion  an  ample 
supply  of  native  oratory  and  poetry.  In  the  pamphlet 
which  preserves  the  record  of  that  interesting  day,  the 
reporter  says,  — 

"But  no  circumstance  excited  more  attention  than 
the  appearance  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Dana,  now  more 
than  fourscore  years  old,  to  pronounce  the  benediction. 

216 


NEWBURYPORT  CELEBRATION.  217 

The  eyes  of  hundreds,  who  themselves  had  grown 
gray  and  old  since  last  they  listened  to  him,  were  fixed 
upon  his  thin  form,  and  placid,  intelligent  countenance  ; 
and  hundreds  hung  upon  his  words,  probably  to  be 
heard  no  more  by  most  of  them  this  side  the  grave, 
who  felt  they  were  amply  repaid  for  all  the  trouble  and 
cost  of  their  visit,  in  the  reception  of  his  solemn 
blessing." 

At  the  dinner,  he  spoke  at  some  length  in  response 
to  a  toast  given  to  the  "  memory  of  Rufus  King,  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Newburyport,"  &c.  He  said, 
"  At  the  distance  of  more  than  seventy  years,  I  have 
as  vivid  an  impression  of  his  person,  his  air,  his  voice, 
his  affluence  of  ideas  and  language,  as  if  these  were 
affairs  of  yesterday." 

After  sketching  the  political  course  of  Mr.  King,  he 
closed  by  saying,  "  I  can  form,  then,  no  kinder  wish 
for  my  country,  than  that  in  each  of  its  future  Presi- 
dents it  may  find,  not  a  Washington,  —  the  wish 
would  be  extravagant  —  the  age  of  miracles  has  ceased 
—  but  one  who  will  follow  in  the  same  path.  Let  me 
wish,  too,  that  every  such  follower  of  Washington 
may  have  the  vigorous  and  efficient  support  of  a  Rufus 
King." 

A  pleasing  incident  occurred  in  the  early  part  of 
the  day.  He  was  passing  down  Federal  Street,  in 
order  to  see  the  procession  from  the  house  of  a  friend, 
and  was  near  the  parsonage  (now  private  property) 
in  which  he  had  spent  his  earlier  years  in  Newbury- 
port, when  the  gentleman  occupying  it  begged  him  to 
walk  in  ;  and  he  was  standing  in  the  door-way  when 
the  procession  passed.  The  effect  upon  many  former 
residents,  of  thus  seeing  him  where  in  their  childhood 

19 


218  PERSONAL  APPEARANCE. 

they  had  been  accustomed  to   see  him,  was  indicated 
by  prolonged  and  hearty  cheers. 

Kind  and  touching  allusions  were  also  made  to  him 
by  the  Rev.  George  Wildes  (the  orator  of  the  day), 
Hon.  Caleb  Cushing,  and  other  speakers;  and  the  pri- 
vate interviews  sought  with  him  by  many  whom  he 
had  known  in  their  younger  days,  were  to  him  exceed- 
ingly pleasant  and  refreshing.  One  toast  offered  (not 
in  his  presence)  by  a  gentleman  of  Unitarian  creed, 
might  tempt  even  a  Puritan  to  smile :  "  Rev.  Dr. 
Dana  —  His  actions  speak  louder  than  words;  for 
while  he  attempts  to  convince  us  of  original  sin,  he 
shows  by  his  life  that  he  is  free  from  it." 

Not  long  after  this,  an  engraving  from  the  portrait 
taken  several  years  before,  elicited  some  notices  which 
convey  a  pretty  correct  impression  of  his  personal  ap- 
pearance. The  following  is  from  the  Boston  "  Evening 
Transcript "  : 

"  The  expanse  of  forehead  is  very  striking  in  this 
venerable  face.  Beneath,  are  those  eyes  of  mild  yet 
animated  intelligence  ;  those  amiable  but  highly  intel- 
lectual features;  that  truly  spiritual  expression  which 
overspreads  the  whole,  and  betokens  a  life  devoted  to 
the  things  not  seen  ;  and  the  head  is  nobly  surmounted 
by  that  "  crown  of  glory,"  becoming  one  who,  at  the 
decline  of  protracted  life,  is  found  in  the  way  of  right- 
eousness ;  for  this  venerable  clergyman  is  now  con- 
siderably advanced  beyond  the  long  period  of  four- 
score years,  but  retains  a  degree  of  physical,  as  well  as 
mental  activity,  ■which  encourages  his  many  friends  to 
hope  he  may  be  long  spared  as  a  living  object  of  tb,eir 
veneration  and  love." 

A  Newbury  port  paper  contained  the  following:  — 


PERSONAL    TRAITS.  219 

"  None  who  are  familiar  with  the  features  of  this 
truly  venerable  '  man  of  God '  can  fail  to  recognize  the 
'  speaking  likeness '  presented  in  the  engraving.  'None, 
we  feel  assured,  who  have  listened  to  his  pious  coun- 
sels in  youth,  and  known  of  his  faithful '  walk  with  God,' 
will  omit  the  opportunity  of  securing  a  memento  of 
one  whose  name  and  works  will  ever  be  held  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  in  the  church  and  the  world.  Dr. 
Dana  still  lives,  active,  at  an  advanced  age,  in  his  Mas- 
ter's work,  honored  and  revered  by  Christians  of  every 
name. 

"  He  is  one  of  the  few  remaining  ties  that  con- 
nect us  with  the  better  characteristics  of  the  past. 
With  a  mind  richly  stored  with  the  treasures  of  the 
English  classics,  and  skilled  in  accurate  criticism,  he  is 
still  one  of  the  best  and  most  reliable  authorities  in  all 
that  pertains  to  its  nicer  shades  of  interpretation  and 
analysis.  Profound  and  acute  as  a  theological  and 
polemical  writer,  his  mind  still  lights  up  with  'its 
wonted  fires,'  in  any  insidious  attacks  upon  the  essen- 
tial doctrines  of  his  faith.  Identified  with  the  domes- 
tic joys,  and  sorrows  of  nearly  three  generations,  ripe 
for  the  Master's  presence,  a  kind  Providence  still  per- 
mits the  blessings  of  his  counsels  and  his  prayers  to 
the  descendants  of  those  who  have  long  since  pre- 
ceded him  in  the  pathway  to  '  glory,  honor,  and  im- 
mortality. ' " 

The  correspondent  of  a  Western  paper  describes  him 
as  he  was  in  1855  : 

"  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  somewhat  intimate  in  his 
family  during  the  summer  of  1855.  He  was  then  in 
full  possession  of  his  ordinary  faculties  of  mind.  Per- 
haps his  intellect  may  have  lost  some  of  its  vigor  for  deep 


220  STATE   OF  HEALTH. 

and  original  thinking;  and  there  probably  was  less  viva- 
city of  imagination  and  manner  than  he  had  once  pos- 
sessed ;  but  I  could  not  see  that  his  memory  or  judg- 
ment were  at  all  impaired.  I  heard  him  preach  twice, 
with  as  much  method  and  coherency  as  any  one.  His 
sight  had  for  some  time  been  so  much  injured  that  he 
could  not  read  ;  but  he  repeated  the  portion  of  Scripture 
and  the  hymns  that  a  full  service  required,  with  ease 
and  fluency." 

The  same   writer  speaks  of  "his  kind  and  loving 
spirit,  his  simple  faith,  his  soul  without  guile." 

For  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  much 
harassed  with  cough.  In  the  autumn  of  1852,  he  had 
suffered  a  further  privation  as  to  the  use  of  his  eyes. 
His  daughter  states  that,  "  when  the  first  snow  of  the 
season  commenced,  one  morning,  as  the  large,  thick 
flakes  came  down,  and  he  perceived  that  he  was  to 
have  a  day  uninterrupted  by  visitors,  with  his  native 
joyousness  he  exulted  at  the  prospect.  He  wrote  let- 
ters —  he  read  —  but  the  next  day  he  found  that  he  had 
over-tasked  his  eyes ;  and  from  that  time  he  was  able 
to  use  them  scarcely  at  all.  This  was  a  sore  affliction 
to  one  of  whom  it  had  been  justly  said,  that  his  native 
activity  was  so  great  that  he  was  never  unhappy  when 
fully  employed.  But  it  was  borne  with  the  usual  un- 
complaining patience.  He  could  still  listen  to  reading, 
sometimes  three  or  four  hours  in  the  day ;  he  dictated 
letters,  also  articles  for  the  '  Panoplist,' and  other  period- 
icals. As  the  'Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit'  came 
out,  he  listened  to  them  with  the  greatest  avidity. 
Though  enfeebled  at  times  by  disease,  he  usually  sat 
up  all  day,  rising  early  in  the  morning,  as  had  been  his 
life-Ions;  custom." 


NEW-ENGLAND   THEOLOGY.  2*21 

In  1855,  he  contributed,  at  the  request  of  the  author, 
an  Introduction  to  "The  Theology  of  New  England." 
In  this  he  says,  — 

"  What  is  the  influence  which  German  theology  has 
exercised  for  years,  and  is  now  exercising,  on  the  theo- 
logy of  our  own  country  ?  On  this  subject,  we  need  not 
adopt  a  strain  of  indiscriminate  reproof.  The  history, 
geography,  and  chronology  of  the  Scriptures,  their 
criticism,  literature,  and  antiquities,  —  all  have  their  im- 
portance and  use.  In  these  departments,  the  German 
religionists  have  exhibited  indefatigable  activity,  and 
amassed  immense  stores  of  knowledge.  Of  these 
accumulations,  religious  students  may  safely  and  wisely 
avail  themselves.  Yet  if,  in  these  pursuits,  their  minds 
should  be  insensibly  drawn  away  from  the  great  and 
distinguishing  doctrines  of  Scripture,  or  should  receive 
perverse  or  indistinct  impressions  of  them,  the  evil 
would  be  immense.  The  largest  acquisitions  of  such 
knowledge  would  but  ill  compensate  for  the  want  or 
loss  of  the  essential  and  saving  truths  of  God's  word. 

"  The  attribute  of  Scripture  which  pre-eminently 
stamps  its  value  and  importance  is  its  inspiration. 
Here  lies  the  basis  of  all  the  instruction,  the  hope  and 
comfort  which  it  imparts.  To  renounce  this  precious 
attribute  is  to  give  up  ourselves  to  endless  doubt  and 
blank  despair;  while  to  have  our  faith  in  it  shaken 
or  impaired  is  to  want  the  first  and  most  essential 
qualification  of  Christian  instructors.  Surely  no  one 
will  contend  that  our  young  men,  destined  to  the  min- 
istry, and  subjected  to  the  influences  we  have  described, 
are  in  no  danger  of  contamination." 

After  specifying  other  divergences  of  the  new  from 
the  old  theology,  he  proceeds:  "The  subject  of  man's 

19* 


222  NEW-ENGLAND   THEOLOGY. 

ability  and  inability  has  been  much  discussed.  Ques- 
tions on  this  subject  are  much  less  likely  to  be  decided 
by  philosophic  reasoning,  than  by  common  sense  and 
the  Bible. 

"  Still  there  are  truths  in  the  case,  the  force  of  which 
most  candid  minds  will  admit.  That  all  human  beings 
are  under  immediate  and  everlasting  obligations  to 
repent  of  their  sins,  to  obey  the  law,  and  receive  the 
gospel;  that  there  is  no  obstacle  in  the  way,  but  such 
as  arises  from  their  own  obstinacy  and  wickedness ; 
and  that  their  perdition,  if  they  finally  perish,  will 
be  of  their  own  procuring  —  these  are  unquestionable 
facts. 

"  It  is  equally  unquestionable  that  sinnei's  lie  wholly 
at  the  mercy  of  God  ;  that  he  holds  their  salvation  and 
perdition  in  his  own  sovereign  hand ;  and  that  all  their 
efforts  to  save  themselves  will  be  utterly  abortive 
without  divine  and  omnipotent  aid. 

"  Between  these  two  classes  of  propositions  there  may 
be  seeming  discrepancies  ;  but  they  are  only  seeming. 
All  truths  are  reconcilable  with  all  other  truths.  What 
appears  to  our  frail  minds  to  be  discordant  may  be 
quite  otherwise  in  the  eye  of  an  omniscient  God.  And 
we  ourselves,  in  a  future  state,  may  see  clear  and  satis- 
fying light,  where  now  we  behold  only  impenetrable 
darkness. 

"The  propensity  of  the  present  day  seems  to  be  to 
magnify  human  power.  Thoughts  are  sported  on  this 
subject,  obviously  irreconcilable  with  Scripture  and 
common  sense.  This  is  undoubtedly  a  serious  evil ; 
for  though  these  views  seemingly  tend  to  excite  men 
to  action,  their  real  tendency  is  to  lull  them  into 
sloth  and  security.     Let  a  man  believe  that  his  salva- 


NEW-ENGLAND   THEOLOGY.  223 

tion  is  fully,  and  in  every  sense,  in  his  own  power,  and 
he  will  delay  the  disagreeable  task  to  a  more  conve- 
nient season.  He  will  become  proud,  self-sufficient,  and 
careless.  It  is  worth  a  serious  inquiry,  whether  that 
recklessness  as  to  religion  and  the  soul,  and  even  that 
laxity  in  principles  and  morals,  which  so  lamentably 
prevail  in  our  day,  are  not  attributable  to  extravagant 
views  of  human  power  and  sufficiency. 

"  On  the  topic  thus  briefly  discussed,  there  arise 
some  reflections  too  important  to  be  neglected  or  for- 
gotten. The  error  in  question  respecting  human 
ability  was,  in  former  times,  inculcated  by  ministers  of 
great  seriousness  and  fidelity,  —  men  who,  in  their  pri- 
vate speculations,  cherished  sound  and  Scriptural  views 
on  many  gospel  subjects;  and  who,  in  their  public 
instructions,  uttered  many  things  suited  to  alarm  the 
fears,  and  awaken  the  consciences,  of  the  impenitent. 
But  the  case  is  otherwise  now.  The  modern  theology 
is  superficial  and  unimpressive.  It  contains  little  which 
tends  either  to  awaken  the  consciences  or  alarm  the 
fears  of  the  irreligious.  Of  course,  the  error  in  ques- 
tion is  left  unqualified  and  unchecked,  to  produce  its 
disastrous  effects  on  the  minds  of  men,  and  lead  them 
insensibly  in  the  path  to  ruin. 

.  .  .  "The  writer  of  this  Introduction  is  aware  that, 
by  his  present  and  former  communications  to  the  public, 
he  may  incur  the  suspicion  of  severity  towards  his 
Christian  and  ministerial  brethren.  But  he  pleads 
innocence.  On  this  point,  he  can  appeal  to  his  own  con- 
science, and  he  hopes  also  to  his  omniscient  Judge,  At 
no  period  has  he  felt  more  anxious  to  live  and  die  in 
peace  with  every  human  being.  Yet  feeling  that  his 
final  account  is  near,  he   is  anxious  to  spend  his  last 


224  BEREA  VEMENT. 

breath  in  defending  the  truth  of  God,  and  in  opposing 
the  errors  which  threaten  its  subversion.  Conscious 
that  he  is  liable  to  error,  he  knows  that  the  same 
liability  attends  his  valued  brethren  who  differ  from 
him  in  judgment.  Nor  is  it  impossible  that,  when  he 
shall  have  retired  from  the  stage,  they  may  remember 
his  warnings  with  regret  that  they  have  not  been 
regarded." 

This  was  his  last  public  utterance  on  the  subject  so 
near  his  heart.  It  is  dated  "  Newburyport,  Nov.  19, 
1855."     He  was  then  in  his  eighty-fifth  year. 

In  1856,  he  was  once  more  called  to  feel  the  pang 
of  domestic  affliction.  His  youngest  daughter,  Sarah, 
wife  of  Mr.  I.  W.  Wheelwright,  died,  after  a  lingering 
illness,  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  April.  After 
her  decease,  his  affection  toward  her  children  seemed, 
if  possible,  more  tender  than  before. 

This  year,  he  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees at  Andover.  His  letter  of  resignation,  dated 
Aug.  2,  1856,  concludes  thus  :  — 

"  It  now  remains,  that,  having  feebly  but  honestly 
performed  a  sacred  duty  to  the  living  and  the  dead,  I 
should  remit  these  vast  concerns  to  your  cool  and  con- 
scientious deliberation,  and  to  the  disposal  of  an  all- 
governing  and  all-wise  Providence. 

"  In  parting  with  the  Seminary,  I  shall  by  no  means 
lose  my  deep  interest  in  its  prosperity  and  its  useful- 
ness. It  shall  have  my  latest  prayers.  May  light  from 
Heaven  directly  dawn  on  the  minds  of  its  guardians, 
its  instructors,  and  its  students !  May  it  prove  a  rich 
and  lasting  blessing  to  the  church  and  the  community ! 

"With  much  personal  consideration  and  respect, 
"  I  am,  my  dear  brethren,  yours, 

"  Daniel  Dana." 


STATE  OF  MIND.  225 

Later  in  the  same  month,  whilst  on  his  way  to  Bos- 
ton, he  had  a  fall  at  the  railroad  depot  in  Ipswich, 
occasioning  some  injury  to  his  head,  attended  with 
temporary  loss  of  memory.  This  created  some  alarm  ; 
but  before  the  most  distant  member  of  his  family  could 
reach  him,  he  was  convalescing;  and,  a  few  days  later, 
his  buoyancy  of  spirit  was  such  as  to  call  forth  expres- 
sions of  surprise.  He  said  that  he  felt  something  of 
the  elasticity  consequent .  on  recovery  from  sickness. 
He  was  cheered,  too,  by  a  brief  visit  from  a  daughter 
of  his  eldest  brother  —  (who  had  deceased,  in  hon- 
ored old  age,  some  years  before.)  The  other  members 
of  his  father's  family,  and  most  of  the  children  of  his 
younger  brother  at  Marblehead,  had  usually  been  not 
remote  from  him ;  and  no  small  enjoyment  did  he  de- 
rive from  this  vicinage  ;  but  the  family  of  the  brother 
who  had  been  his  companion  in  college,  he  could  see 
only  at  long  intervals. 

There  was  doubtless  another  cause  of  his  cheerful- 
ness at  this  time.  His  resignation  of  his  connection 
with  the  Andover  Seminary  could  not  but  be  attended 
with  a  sense  of  relief —  which  some  of  his  children 
shared.  One  of  them,  indeed,  whose  visits  often  syn- 
chronized with  the  annual  gathering  at  Andover  (when 
the  affairs  of  the  Seminary  were  wont  to  fill  a  large 
place  in  the  conversation),  had  once  gravely  proposed 
memorializing  the  trustees  to  change  their  anniversary 
to  the  dead  of  winter.  But  now  a  more  efi'ectual  re- 
lief was  secured  by  his  resignation  ;  and  the  graver  tone 
of  his  conversation  was  delightfully  qualified  by  anec- 
dotes, reminiscences,  classical  allusions,  and  that  genial 
flow  of  soul  which  was  always  his  when  his  spirit  was 
not  oppressed.    He  gave  from  memory  at  this  time  the 


226  CENTENNIAL. 

jocose  lines  of  Erasmus  ("Nonne  meministi,  quod 
saepe  clixisti,"  &c.)  with  perfect  fluency ;  and  brought 
out,  from  his  stores  of  anecdote,  things  new  as  well  as 
old. 

After  all,  he  was  doubtless  somewhat  indebted  to 
Andover.  With  less  incitement  to  activity,  his  mental 
powers  could  scarcely  have  retained  so  prolonged  vigor. 
It  is  but  just  to  add,  that,  where  he  was  personally 
known,  his  principles  were  held  in  honor  by  many 
who  differed  widely  from  his  opinions.  The  Secretary 
of  the  Andover  Board,  writing  him  the  year  previous 
(Aug.  24,  1855),  says,  "On  an  examination  of  the 
Report  of  the  Committee,  you  will  find  no  unkind  word  ; 
and  I  am  very  sure  there  is  no  unkind  feeling  in  the 
breast  of  any  one  of  the  trustees.  On  the  contrary, 
so  far  as  I  know,  they  cherish  a  very  profound  respect 
for  you,  though  they  may  not  be  able  to  adopt  all  your 
views."  When,  at  the  semi-centennial  celebration  at 
Andover,  in  1858,  the  orator  compared  him  to  "  the 
poet's  Abdiel,"  it  was  a  tribute  from  an  unexpected 
quarter. 

About  this  time,  he  repeated  to  two  of  his  daughters, 
who  were  visiting  him,  a  long  and  beautiful  poem  from 
memory.  The  life  of  Dr.  Mason  interested  him  deeply. 
On  some  days,  three  of  his  daughters  took  part  in  read- 
ing to  him ;  as  a  listener,  he  "  tired  them  all  out." 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  November  of  this  year,  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport,  with  which 
had  been  his  earliest  pastoral  connection,  celebrated 
the  one  hundredth  year  since  the  erection  of  the  church 
edifice.  In  the  morning,  a  sermon,  rich  in  historical 
interest,  was  delivered  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  A.  G.  Ver- 
milye.  The  following  is  from  a  newspaper  report  of 
the  afternoon  services  :  — 


CENTENNIAL.  227 

"In  the  afternoon,  the  house  was  again  filled,  at  two 
o'clock,  to  listen  to  the  counsels  and  remarks  of  four 
successive  pastors  of  the  church,  who  occupied  the 
pulpit,  and  who  had  come  to  unite  again  in  a  new  con- 
secration of  the  sanctuary  so  dear  to  them  all.  Rev. 
Dr.  Dana  was  the  first  speaker.  Sixty-two  years  ago, 
this  eminent  and  devoted  servant  of  Christ  was  solemn- 
ly ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  this  church.  Under 
his  ministry,  the  church  rapidly  increased,  the  congre- 
gation became  large  and  influential,  and  soon  attained 
a  vigor  and  influence  unsurpassed  by  any  church  in  the 
vicinity.  The  most  eminent  ministers  in  the  country 
were  often  in  its  pulpit ;  the  voices  of  Dr.  Dwight, 
President  Appleton,  Dr.  Griffin,  Dr.  Payson,  Dr.  Porter, 
Professors  Stuart  and  Woods,  Dr.  Codman,  and  many 
other  faithful  ministers,  chained  the  attention  and  pene- 
trated the  hearts  of  multitudes.  It  has  often  been  re- 
marked by  strangers,  that,  in  no  congregation,  during 
the  ministry  of  Dr.  Dana,  had  they  ever  witnessed 
more  serious  attention,  or  united  in  more  solemn  and 
inrpressive  services. 

"Dr.  Dana's  remarks  were  heard  with  most  respectful 
attention.  They  were  directed  to  the  simple  point  of 
the  duty  of  his  audience  as  hearers  of  the  gospel. 
Such  a  theme  was  fitting  indeed  for  one,  who,  standing 
on  the  outposts  of  life,  could  look  back  upon  the  sixty 
years  in  which  he  had  uttered  the  warnings  of  the 
gospel,  and  proclaimed  its  messages  of  pardon.  This 
revered  and  beloved  minister  is  still  among  us,  still  en- 
gaged in  offices  of  Christian  love,  still,  we  rejoice  to 
say,  a  preacher  of  righteousness  in  the  great  congrega- 
tion. Long  may  his  light  continue  to  shine,  and  his 
loved  and  venerated  form  be  seen  in  our  streets,  and  in 
the  house  of  God  ! " 


228  STATE  OF  HEALTH. 

A  month  later  (Dec.  30,  1856),  he  delivered  the 
charge  at  the  installation  of  Rev.  H.  R.  Timlow  as 
pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which 
had  been  his  latest  pastoral  connection.  In  this  he 
chiefly  availed  himself  of  some  former  preparation. 

With  respect  to  the  state  of  his  health  after  this,  his 
daughter  writes,  — 

"During  the  winter  of  1856-7,  he  attended  church 
quite  regularly,  enjoying  the  ministrations  of  his  young 
friend  and  successor,  Mr.  Timlow.  In  the  spring, 
though  feeble,  and  so  pale  that  the  sight  of  him  in  the 
pulpit  was  an  affecting  one,  yet  no  persuasions  could  in- 
duce him  to  remain  at  home.  His  eyes  had  now  become 
less  sensitive  to  light,  and  no  longer  needed  the  green 
glasses  which  had  so  long  concealed  them.  Both  pas- 
tor and  people  loved  to  see  their  aged  friend  in  his 
place,  and  to  have  him  take  part  in  the  communion 
service.  The  first  Sabbath  in  July,  1857,  he  was  there 
as  usual,  and  dined,  as  was  his  custom,  with  his  niece, 
Mrs.  C.  (who  lived  opposite  the  church),  in  order  to 
attend  the  afternoon  service.  Feeling  very  feeble,  he 
would  have  returned  home;  but,  as  Mr.  Vermilye  was 
to  preach,  he  did  not  like  to  seem  to  neglect  him.  Re- 
turning home  in  a  state  of  great  exhaustion,  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  he  could  be  supported  into  the 
house,  and  up  to  his  room.  He  could  scarcely  speak. 
For  two  or  three  weeks,  he  was  confined  chiefly  to  his 
room  and  bed. 

"In  the  summer  of  1857,  he  made  farewell  visits  to 
two  daughters,  resident  in  New  Hampshire,  and  also  to 
relatives  and  friends  in  and  around  Boston. 

"His  cough  had  been  for  years  at  times  distressing, 
but  he  bore  it  with  great  patience.     When  not  sutler- 


STATE  OF  HEALTH.  229 

ing  in  this  way,  he  enjoyed  hearing  reading.  "  The 
Words  of  Jesus,"  and  Dr.  Alexander's  "Consolation," 
gave  him  much  pleasure. 

"  His  conversation  was  still  often  vivacious.  Speak- 
ing one  day  of  the  alterations  needlessly  and  wantonly 
made  in  hymns,  he  said,  '  What  absurdities  those 
critics  commit,  who  are  forever  attempting  to  alter 
hymns!  For  instance,  in  that  verse  of  Addison, 
"Through  all  eternity  —  But  oh!"  they  have  got  it, 
"  For  oh  ! "  as  though  eternity  were  to  be  used  for  the 
very  thing  it  was  unfit  for.  At  another  time,  he  objected 
to  the  line,  'A  heaven  of  joy,  because  of  love  ! '  and  pre- 
ferred, 'A  heaven  of  joy,  a  heaven  of  love.'  'Poetry,' 
he  said,  '  does  not  reason.'  He  said  that  was  a  fine  re- 
mark of  Daniel  Webster,  on  a  verse  of  Dr.  Watts, 
'And  sit  and  sing  herself  away;'  he  thought  it  had 
allusion  to  the  swan,  whose  dying  notes  are  sweetest. 
The  change,  'Till  called  to  rise  and  soar  away,'  he 
condemned  as  a  great  impertinence. 

"  One  day,  he  wished  that  the  clock,  which  was  out 
of -order,' should  be  attended  to.  On  my  asking  if  he 
had  any  objection  to  defer  it  for  a  few  days,  he  an- 
swered, '  None  at  all,  only  that  which  a  certain  king 
gave.  I  believe  that  was  about  a  clock;  he  said  he 
would  have  nothing  about  him  that  would  lie.''  " 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Timlow  (writing  after  his  decease) 
says,  — 

"He  always  occupied  the  pulpit  with  me.  Often 
after  service,  he  would  take  me  by  the  hand,  and  with 
paternal  tenderness  encourage  me.  He  showed  me  too 
much  deference.  I  was  conscious  of  not  deserving  it ; 
but  his  desire  was  to  relieve  me  from  all  feeling  as  to 
his  interference  as  an  ex-pastor.  And  this  he  did.  As 
20 


230  STATE  OF  HEALTH. 

I  went  out  among  my  people,  some  would  say,  '  What 
a  good  friend  you  have  in  Dr.  Dana!'" 

The  latest  visits  of  the  writer  of  this  narrative  to  his 
father  were  among  the  pleasantest  ever  enjoyed.  That 
of  1858  was  delayed  till  near  the  end  of  November. 
At  this  time,  he  rose  early,  and  was  with  his  family  at 
breakfast,  and  sometimes  at  dinner;  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  day  he  kept  his  bed.  His  cough  was  some- 
times harassing ;  but,  with  this  exception,  he  was  free 
from  pain,  although  evidently  much  reduced  in  strength. 
He  seemed  now  to  have  got  beyond  all  earthly  care. 
Even  Andover  had  ceased  from  troubling.  His  mind 
was  still  clear  and  bright,  and  his  eyesight  was  suffi- 
cient to  make  him  observant  of  any  change  in  the 
countenance  of  those  with  whom  he  conversed. 

He  was  now  in  his  eighty-eighth  year.  Two  notes, 
dictated  about  this  time,  show  his  undiminished  vigor 
of  mind,  warmth  of  affection,  and  delicacy  of  style. 
The  first  was  addressed  to  friends  lately  bereaved  ;  the 
second  to  a  highly  esteemed  relative. 

"  My  dear  afflicted  Fkiends,  —  I  feel  myself  im- 
pelled to  express  a  tender  sympathy  in  your  recent  be- 
reavement. I  have  cherished  a  very  tender  affection 
for  your  deceased  parents,  and,  if  their  children  were  fa- 
vored children,  it  is  not  improper  for  me  to  say  that 
the  parents  were  favored  too.  The  loss  of  such  friends 
carries  us  forward  to  the  world  where  'adieus  and  fare- 
wells are  a  sound  unknown.'  Let  us  feel  that  such 
calls  are  sent  in  Fatherly  love ;  fitted,  as  they  are  to 
uproot  us  from  the  present  world,  and  lead  us  to  Him 
for  the  future. 

"Believe  me  very  affectionately  yours, 

"D.  Dana." 


LETTER.  231 

TO    W.  W.,   ESQ. 

"  Newburyport,  Jan.  5, 1859. 

"My  deae  Sie,  —  The  late  manifestation  of  your 
generous  kindness  does  not  permit  me  to  be  wholly 
silent,  while  it  forbids  me  to  speak  in  such  terms  as 
would  wound  your  delicacy.  I  can  only  wish  and  pray 
that  it  may  be  richly  rewarded  by  the  Giver  of  all 
good. 

"  But  the  occasion  gives  me  leave  to  touch  a  topic 
which  I  doubt  not  will  be  delightful  to  your  heart.  I 
refer  to  your  mother,  so  dear  to  us  all,  and  so  much" the 
ornament  of  her  sex.  It  so  happened,  that,  many  years 
since,  I  took  two  journeys  in  quick  succession :  one  to 
Maine,  the  other  to  Dartmouth  College.  In  both  these 
journeys,  she  was  my  companion  ;  and,  though  I  thought 
I  was  intimate  with  her,  the  intimacy  was  much  in- 
creased. I  found  her  possessed  of  a  remarkable  mind  ; 
and  from  that  period  to  the  time  when  Providence 
took  the  treasure  from  us,  my  estimate  of  her  worth 
was  greatly  heightened.  For  excellence  of  disposition, 
and  dignity  of  manners,  and  universal  benevolence, 
she  was  very  highly  distinguished.  If  to  be  surrounded 
with  friends  here,  whom  we  tenderly  love,  and  whom 
it  is  improving  to  love,  why  should  it  not  be  corre- 
spondently  gratifying  to  have  such  friends  in  heaven  ? 
Nor  can  I  form  a  kinder  wish  than  that  we  may  meet 
her  in  that  world  where  all  that  is  excellent  is  raised  to 
the  highest  pitch,  and  freed  from  every  imperfection. 
"  Believe  me  with  great  esteem  and  affection, 
"  Yours, 

"D.  Dana." 

His   daughter   writes,  "One  day,  repeating  part  of 
a  hymn,  he  said,  '  That  line  is  a  very  fine  one  — '  Sis 


232  VISIT  OF  PRESBYTERY. 

love  can  ne'er  be  told /'  the  music  is  so  exactly  adapted, 
as  if  striving  to  reach  the  sentiment.'  He  then  sang, 
'  His  love,  his  love,  his  love  can  ne'er  be  told.' 

"He  enjoyed  very  much  his  Thanksgiving  visit  from 
W.  and  F.,  and  often  looked  back  to  it  with  pleasure. 
He  said  to  me  of  F.,  '  She  is  a  lovely  one  ! ' 

"  In  April,  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry  met  in 
Newburyport.  Two  of  its  members  called,  and  asked 
whether  I  thought  him  able  to  receive  a  visit  from  the 
members  in  attendance.  I  referred  it  to  him,  suggest- 
ing that  there  would  be  probably  eight  or  ten.  He 
said  he  should  be  happy  to  see  them.  The  next  day 
(April  27),  he  was  feeble,  and  unable  to  sit  up  after 
breakfast.  He  was  preparing  to  rise,  but  had  leaned 
back  on  the  pillows,  when  the  members  of  Presbytery, 
nineteen  in  number  (including  corresponding  mem- 
bers), were  announced.  Receiving  them  at  the  door,  I 
heard  only  the  last  words  of  his  welcome,  —  'and  take 
chairs,  gentlemen ;  that  is,  if  you  can  find  them.' 
Mr.  Savage  addressed  him  in  behalf  of  the  Presbytery, 
congratulating  him  upon  his  continued  tranquillity  and 
Christian  cheerfulness,  and  then  alluded  to  a  time 
when  they  had  stood  side  by  side  at  Andover  (per- 
haps thirty)  years  before.  At  this,  he  said,  in  his  way 
of  gentle  earnestness,  '  Indeed  !  you  surprise  me  —  I 
could  not  have  thought  that  it  had  been  so  long.' 
After  the  address,  Mr.  Allen  prayed,  or  rather  gave 
praise  to  God.  The  ministers  and  elders  (three  of  the 
former  were  his  successors  in  the  pastoral  office)  were 
standing  around,  many  of  them  looking  at  him  with 
fixed  and  intense  interest ;  he,  with  his  pale,  spiritual 
face,  joining  in  the  prayer,  and  then  evidently  seeking 
to   identify  many  of  them.     As  it  closed,  he  spoke  : 


VISIT  OF  PRESBYTERY.  233 

"Brethren,  I  thank  you;  I  feel  as  if  I  would  like  to 
take  each  of  you  by  the  hand.  As  they  in  turn  came 
forward,  he  had  an  appropriate  word  for  each." 

The  scene  was  described  by  those  present  as  "  truly 
sublime  and  affecting."  The  Presbytery,  on  returning 
to  their  place  of  meeting,  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions :  — 

"  Whereas,  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry  had  the 
precious  privilege,  this  morning,  of  visiting  their  ven- 
erated father  in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  in  his 
chamber,  to  which  he  is  confined  by  increasing  infirm- 
ity, and  of  taking  his  hand,  probably  for  the  last  time 
as  a  body ;    and 

"  Whereas,  by  that  interview,  we  were  reminded  of 
his  devotion  to  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
and  of  his  bold  and  repeated  protests  against  the  in- 
coming of  a  false  theology,  therefore,  — 

"  Resolved,  That  we  express  our  conviction  of  the 
important  service  he  has  thereby  rendered  the  cause 
of  truth  and  of  Christ ;    and,  also, 

"  Resolved,  That  while  we  regret  the  decay  of  the 
natural  vigor  of  one  whose  whole  life  and  character 
give  such  weight  to  the  position  he  assumed,  and  to 
the  testimony  he  has  borne,  we  are  incited,  by  his  ex- 
ample, to  cleave  the  more  tenaciously  to  those  tenets,  the 
defence  of  which  has  endeared  him  to  us  all,  and  will 
always  endear  to  us  his  memory." 

Early  in  June,  the  writer  of  these  lines  visited  him 
for  the  last  time.  He  was  in  a  most  delightful  frame 
of  mind.  The  nervous  system  being  completely  in 
repose,  all  the  amenity  of  his  nature  seemed  more  con- 
spicuous than  ever.  The  stream  of  life,  now  no  longer 
20* 


234  STATE  OF  MIND. 

troubled,  was  flowing  smoothly  and  sweetly  on  toward 
the  peaceful  shore. 

A  little  incident  showed  the  quickness  of  his  memory. 
On  his  son's  telling  him  that  he  had  just  come  from 
the  General  Assembly  at  Indianapolis,  and  that  his 
chief  inducement  to  attend  had  been  the  fact  of  his 
father's  having  gone  to  the  Assembly  nearly  half  a 
century  before,  he  instantly  said,  "  Yes,  I  attended  the 
General  Assembly  in  1810,  1812,  and  1814." 

At  the  parting,  having  named  very  affectionately 
his  son's  wife  (always  much  beloved  by  him),  he  said, 
"  Commend  me  to  her  in  the  kindest  terms  that  lan- 
guage supplies."  These  words,  spoken,  not  with  the 
halting  utterance  of  old'  age,  but  with  perfect  fluency, 
distinctness,  and  sweetness,  were  the  last  which  his 
son  ever  heard  from  his  lips. 

His  daughter  states  that  "  he  now  turned  from  other 
reading  chiefly  to  the  Bible,  and  to  the  hymns  of  his 
favorite  Watts,  and  of  other  writers.  Baxter's  hymn, 
beginning,  — 

"  Lord,  it  belongs  not  to  my  care, 
Whether  to  die  or  live," 

he  dwelt  upon  with  great  pleasure.  Once,  when  I 
read  to  him,  at  his  selection,  the  fourteenth  chapter  of 
the  Gospel  of  John,  he '  exclaimed,  at  verse  27, 
<  Beautiful ! ' 

"  On  the  21st  of  July  (three  clays  before  he  entered 
his  eighty-ninth  year),  he  was  listening  to  the  reading 
of  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  second  Epistle  to  Timothy. 
At  the  passage,'!  have  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  haA^e 
finished  my  course,'  &c,  he  exclaimed  with  emphasis, 
'  Oh !  glorious  ! ' 

"  His  gratitude  to  the  friends  who  were  constantly 


STATE  OF  MIND.  235 

ministering  to  his  comfort  seemed  warmer  than  ever. 
Only  two  clays  before  his  departure,  he  dictated  a  note 
of  thanks  to  one  of  them  for  what  he  termed  her  per- 
severing kindness,  and  requested  her  to  select  a  volume 
from  his  library." 

On  Wednesday,  Aug.  24  (but  two  days  before  his 
death),  his  daughter  read  to  him  some  hymns  from  a 
Collection  received  the  night  before,  of  which  one  of 
his  sons  was  the  editor,  and  the  other  the  publisher. 
He  spoke  of  them  both  very  affectionately,  and  was 
much  pleased  with  the  hymns  read.  Two  by  St. 
Bernard  drew  from  him  the  repeated  and  animated 
exclamation,  "Beautiful!  Beautiful!"  One  of  these 
begins, 

"  Jesus,  the  very  thought  of  thee;  "  &c, 

the  other,  which,  in  the  version  given,  is  of  recent 
appearance,  is  addressed  to  our  Saviour  on  the  cross  : 

"  Sacred  Head !  so  bruised  and  wounded, 
With  the  crown  of  thorns  surrounded, 
Smitten  with  the  mocking  reed,  — 
Wounds  which  may  not  cease  to  bleed,  — 
Hail !  from  whose  most  blessed  brow 
None  can  wipe  the  blood-drops  now : 
All  the  flower  of  life  has  fled, 
Mortal  paleness  there  instead. 

"  Thou  this  agony  and  scorn 
Hast  for  me,  a  sinner,  borne  — 
Me  unworthy!  all  for  me 
Were  those  signs  of  love  on  thee ! 
Let  me  true  communion  know 
With  thee  in  thy  sacred  woe; 
Give  thee  thanks  with  every  breath, 
Jesus,  for  thy  bitter  death. 


236  HIS  DEATH. 

"  When  my  dying  hour  must  be, 
Faithful  Shepherd,  think  of  me ; 
In  that  dreadful  hour,  I  pray, 
Jesus,  come  without  delay: 
All  unworthy  of  thy  thought, 
Guilty,  yet  reject  me  not; 
When  my  dying  hour  is  near, 
Lover  of  my  soul,  appear!  " 

Well  did  these  words  associate  themselves  with  the 
dying  thoughts  of  one  whose  whole  religion  drew  its  life 
from  humble,  trustful  contemplation  of  the  cross  of 
Christ. 

The  next  morning,  he  came  down  to  breakfast  and 
prayers  as  usual,  but  soon  after  began  to  feel  some  in- 
disposition, which,  however,  his  physician  thought 
would  pass  off.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  his  illness 
increased,  and  he  spoke  but  little,  except  in  reply  to 
questions.  He  showed  signs  of  bodily  pain,  but  his 
mental  composure  was  perfect. 

The  next  day,  his  breathing  was  labored,  and 
throughout  the  day  it  was  only  with  much  effort  that 
he  could  speak.  The  passage, "  Like  as  a  father  pitietli 
his  children,"  &c,  being  repeated  in  his  hearing,  he 
said  with  difficulty,  UI  know  it."  He  was  now  evi- 
dently sinking.  Suddenly,  the  difficult  breathing 
ceased  ;  without  a  groan  or  a  struggle,  he  "  fell  asleep." 

It  was  ten  minutes  before  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening 
of  Friday,  Aug.  26,  1859. 

"  Eternity  and  time 

Met  for  a  moment  here ;  , 

From  earth  to  heaven,  a  scale  sublime 

Rested  on  either  sphere, 
Whose  steps  a  saintly  figure  trod, 
By  Death's  cold  hand  led  home  to  God." 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

1859. 
Funeral  Services.  —  Tributes  to  his  Memory. 

The  tolling  bells  announced,  next  morning,  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Newburyport,  that  he  was  gone  who  had 
so  long  been  with  them.  On  the  following  Tuesday, 
the  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Second  Presbyte- 
rian Church. 

"  The  event  was  marked  by  more  than  usual  solem- 
nity and  impressiveness. 

"  The  bells  upon  the  several  churches  of  Newbury  - 
port  commenced  tolling  at  one  o'clock,  and,  with  brief 
intermissions,  continued  to  toll  until  the  remains  were 
deposited  in  the  grave. 

"  About  one  o'clock,  a  large  number  of  clergymen, 
together  with  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  deceased, 
assembled  at  his  late  residence  on  High  Street,  where 
prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Professor  Emerson. 

"  About  two  o'clock,  the  remains  were  conveyed  to 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  followed  by  carriages 
containing  numerous  relatives. 

"  At  the  entrance  to  the  church,  the  funeral  cortege 
passed  between  two  files  of  clergymen,  many  of  whom 
were  scarcely  less  aged  and  venerable  in  appeai'ance 
than  the  still  form  which  they  now  reverently  greeted 
with  uncovered  heads. 

237 


238  FUNERAL  SERVICES. 

"  The  church  was  filled.  Such  of  the  seats  as  were 
not  reserved  for  relatives  and  clergymen  were  occu- 
pied before  the  hour  of  the  services.  The  pulpit  was 
deeply  draped  with  crape,  and  the  recess  in  the  rear 
surrounded  with  this  emblem  of  mourning."  * 

Sorrow  that  they  should  see  his  face  no  more,  holy 
triumph  in  the  assurance  that  henceforth  for  him  there 
was  "  a  crown  of  righteousness,"  divided  the  emotions 
of  that  crowded,  silent  assemblage,  and  found  worthy 
utterance  in  the  solemn  services.  These  were  partici- 
pated in  by  the  pastors  of  the  two  Presbyterian 
Churches,  by  Rev.  Drs.  Withington  and  Dimmick  of 
Newburyport,  Rev.  Daniel  Fitz  of  Ipswich,  and  Rev. 
B.  R.  Allen  of  Marblehead.  Of  those  thus  united  in 
affectionate  tribute  to  his  memory,  one  had  stood  by 
his  side  in  the  ministry  forty-five  years  ;  one  had  been 
long  and  congenially  associated  with  him  in  Presby- 
tery.    The  former  (Dr.  Withington)  said,  — 

"Perhaps  there  never  was  a  funeral  where  a  man  so 
beloved  left  behind  him  so  tranquil  a  sorrow.  His  life 
was  long  :  we  follow  him  to  its  close  as  we  follow  the 
sun  in  one  of  the  longest  days  in  summer,  and  see  it 
set  in  the  softest  radiance,  almost  without  missing  it, 
compensated  by  the  light  of  the  departure,  and  the 
brightness  left  behind.  .  .  .  Little  need  be  said  over 
the  grave  of  one  whose  stone  would  be  inscribed, 
by  the  consent  of  our  whole  population,  The  Good 
Man. 

"  There  are  difficulties  in  a  long  life,  from  the  very 
fact  that  it  is  long.  The  man  that  lives  long  must  be 
tried  by  all  the  temptations  of  youth,  manhood,  and 
age.     To  have  at  once  a  sober  youth,  an  active  man- 

*  Newspaper  Report. 


FUNERAL  SERVICES.  239 

hood,  and  a  cheerful  old  age,  is  a  combination  difficult, 
yet  necessary  to  give  fulness  to  the  Christian  life. 

"  Oh,  may  my  latest  sun  shine  as  benignly  on  my 
head,  as  it  did  on  thine,  my  father  and  my  friend  ! 

..."  Over  his  coffin,  I  venture  to  say,  Dr.  Dana 
is  not  dead.  Some  men,  when  they  are  entombed, 
are  gone  forever.  Of  our  departed  father,  we  cannot 
help  retaining  the  mental  inscription.  Let  us  give  elo- 
queuce  to  his  thoughts,  now  that  he  can  speak  to  us  no 
more ;  and  let  us  remember  that  the  most  grateful 
tribute  we  can  pay  to  his  spirit,  is  to  appreciate  his 
counsels,  and  profit  by  his  example." 

Dr.  Allen  said, — 

"  Though  I  loved  Dr.  Dana  as  a  father,  and  venerated 
him  as  a  sage,  and  agreed  with  him  in  all  his  theologi- 
cal opinions  and  positions,  yet  this  is  not  the  place  nor 
this  the  time  to  consider  these.  Other  business  has 
called  us  here  to-day,  as  these  mournful  tokens — -  this 
house  draped  in  black,  this  large  circle  of  weeping- 
friends,  this  immense  gathering  —  clearly  indicate. 
We  have  come  to  pay  our  tribute  of  respect  to  the  de- 
parted, to  drop  the  tear  of  affection  into  his  coffin,  and 
with  hearts  sorrowful,  yet  buoyant  with  Christian  hope, 
to  bear  his  venerable  form  to  its  last  resting-place  in 
the  dust,  in  firm  faith  of  a  glorious  resurrection  when 
Jesus  shall  come. 

..."  He  was  endowed  with  a  high  order  of  mind. 
God  designed  him  for  a  man  of  mark.  His  intellect 
was  broad,  comprehensive,  acute,  his  faculties  finely 
balanced,  his  judgment  sound  and  reliable.  These  fac- 
ulties had  been  cultivated  and  developed  by  a  sound 
and  fine  education,  not  only  in  the  schools  and  by  the 
books,  but  also  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world  in  the 


240  FUNERAL  SERVICES. 

important  relations  he  sustained,  and  the  posts  of  hon- 
or and  of  usefulness  which  be  filled.  And  his  moral  and 
social  endowments  were  no  less  marked  than  were  his 
mental.  His  conscience  was  enlightened  and  tender ; 
and  it  was  stern,  also,  and  unyielding,  as  to  the  right 
and  the  true.  His  heart  was  warm,  generous,  kind, 
sympathizing ;  his  disposition  amiable  in  the  highest 
degree.  That  politeness  and  urbanity,  that  fear  of 
wounding  the  feelings  of  others,  that  singular  sweet- 
ness and  affection,  which  so  highly  distinguished  all  his 
social  intercourse,  was  no  studied  effort  to  please  ;  it  was 
the  simple,  spontaneous  outburst  of  the  inner  man. 

"And  here  we  cannot  but  admire  the  grace,  nay, 
adore  it,  which  gave  his  heart  so  strong  a  hold  on  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  not  only  for  his  own  sake,  but  for 
the  sake  of  the  truth  and  the  Church ;  for,  if  this  had 
not  been  the  case,  his  peculiarly  amiable  disposition 
might  have  proved  a  strong  temptation  in  contending, 
as  he  had  to  contend,  for  the  faith,  with  those  he  loved ; 
and  he  might  have  been  led,  in  his  fear  to  displease,  and 
his  dread  of  separation,  to  sacrifice  the  truth  he  so  no- 
bly defended.  We  thank  God,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  for  his  strong,  enduring  faith. 

"  Dr.  Dana  was  a  representative  man,  not  only  of  the 
past,  in  the  soundness  of  his  faith  and  his  conservative 
character,  but,  to  a  very  great  extent,  of  the  present 
also,  especially  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged 
and  in  which  he  ministered,  where  he  stood  as  a  pa- 
triarch among  his  brethren.  That  was  a  scene  of  deep 
interest  when  the  Presbytery  assembled  in  his  dying 
chamber,  once  more  to  take  him  by  the  hand,  to  hear 
his  last  words  of  counsel,  and  receive  his  last  benedic- 
tion.    Who  that  was  there  can  ever  forget  it  ? 


FUNERAL  SERVICES.  241 

"Dr.  Dana  filled  an  important  place  in  our  country, 
outside  his  own  church,  as  a  patron  of  sound  learning, 
and  a  friend  of  enlarged  Christian  benevolence.  He 
was  instrumental,  with  others,  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Seminary  of  sacred  learning  which  he  so  fondly 
loved,  over  which  he  watched  as  an  official  with  in- 
tensest  interest  down  almost  to  the  close,  and  which 
retained  his  warm  affections,  and  was  remembered  in 
his  prayers,  till  that  noble  heart  ceased  to  beat.  In 
the  promotion  of  the  great  missionary  and  other  asso- 
ciations of  Christian  benevolence,  which  so  distinguish 
our  age  and  country,  he  took  a  prominent  part.  With 
the  good  they  have  accomplished  he  was  identified ;  over 
it  he  rejoiced  with  exceeding  joy.  He  long  survived 
most  of  his  noble  compeers  in  that  great  work,  and 
stood  here  as  almost  the  only  link  connecting  the 
present  with  the  past. 

"  And  now  he  is  a  glorified  spirit  with  God.  His 
labors,  his  trials,  his  anxieties,  his  sorrows,  are  over. 
He  is  now  singing,  with  a  louder  voice,  and  in  purer 
and  more  exalted  strains,  that  new  song  of  redeeming 
grace  and  undying  love,  which  he  so  loved  to  sing  on  the 
earth.  Oh,  how  much  have  we  to  thank  and  praise  God 
for  in  his  behalf!  For  his  character,  as  a  man,  a  Chris- 
tian, and  a  minister  of  Jesus ;  for  his  long  life  of  emi- 
nent usefulness ;  for  the  strength  imparted  in  scenes  of 
trial;  the  consolations,  so  rich  and  full,  in  the  dark  hour 
of  domestic  affliction,  when  his  crushed  heart  wej:>t  out 
its  sorrows  (and  in  his  long  life  many  such  scenes  were 
his)  ;  for  that  placid  and  cheerful  old  age ;  for  the  bright 
shining  of  that  noble  mind,  and  the  strong  affections 
of  that  warm  heart,  down  to  the  very  close,  which 
made  his  sick  chamber  any  thing  rather  than  a  place  of 
21 


242  FUNERAL  SERVICES. 

gloom ;  for  the  gentle  manner  in  which  the  silver  cord 
was  loosed ;  for  his  calm  and  peaceful  death,  free  from 
all  those  presages  and  accompaniments  which  so  often 
attend  the  dread  march  of  the  last  enemy  —  for  all 
this  we  thank  and  praise  God.  What  other,  what  more, 
could  we  ask  for  one  beloved  so  much,  and  over  whose 
venerable  form,  so  peaceful  in  its  last  rest,  we  so  delight 
to  bend  to-day ! 

"He  is  not  dead;  he  has  just  entered  into  life;  he 
has  entered  the  society  of  redeemed  spirits;  he  has 
again  been  united  to  his  loved  compeers  in  the  Christian 
pilgrimage  who  went  before  ;  he  is  in  communion,  face 
to  face,  in  glory  everlasting,  with  that  Redeemer  with 
whom  he  was  identified  on  earth,  united  in  the  bonds 
of  an  endless  life,  and  to  whose  love  and  grace  he  owes 
his  crown  of  glory.  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory. 
'  O  death  !  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave !  where  is 
thy  victory  ? ' 

"  Dr.  Dana  lives.  He  lives  in  this  community,  where 
he  moved  for  so  many  years  as  a  faithful  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ ;  he  is  cherished  in  the  sacred  memory 
of  all  your  hearts.  The  influence  of  his  character  and 
his  works  is  immortal.  He  lives  in  heaven ;  he  has 
exchanged  the  pilgrim's  staff  and  weeds  for  the  crown 
of  the  conqueror." 

At  the  close  of  the  services,  the  long  procession 
passed  to  Oakhill  Cemetery. 

The  ISTewburyport  "  Herald  "  of  Aug.  31,  says,  — 

"  Long  before  the  bells  over  the  city  began  to  toll, 
telling  that  the  last  hour  for  connection  of  the  living 
with  his  mortal  remains  had  come,  the  house  began  to 
fill  with  the  old  and  young  from  among  his  former 
parishioners,  and  from  the  other  societies  of  the  city, — 


NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH.  243 

with  his  townspeople  and  friends  here,  and  with  stran- 
gers from  abroad  ;  all  leaving  their  various  avocations 
to  go  to  the  house  of  mourning,  and  pay  their  last 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  great  and  good  man  —  the 
greatly  good  —  who  had  fallen.  The  church  in  and 
about  the  pulpit  was  draped  in  mourning,  and  a  solemn 
stillness  rested  upon  the  audience." 

"It  was  pleasant  to  see"  (says  another  writer), 
"  how  universal  and  unaffected  were  the  respect  and 
sorrow.  A  stranger  must  have  known  that  a  s^ood  man 
had  died,  and  that  the  loss  was  a  public  one." 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  a  commemorative  dis- 
course was  delivered  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Timlow,  his  latest  successor  in  the 
Second  Church. 

Before  and  after  the  funeral,  many  spontaneous  trib- 
utes to  his  memory  appeared  in  secular  as  well  as 
religious  journals.  A  few  lines  selected  from  several 
of  these,  may  serve  to  show  how  general  was  the  senti- 
ment of  veneration  and  affection  toward  him  :  — 

"  A  great  and  good  man  has  departed  :  the  sun  of 
his  life,  like  that  of  a  long  and  bright  summer's  day,  has 
gone  down  to  its  beautiful  setting.  Three  generations 
in  the  community  in  which  he  lived  have  walked  in  its 
light,  and  rejoiced  in  its  blessed  and  holy  influences. 
His  eminent  talents  were  adorned  by  graces  peculiarly 
his  own." 

The  following  is  from  "The  Boston  Courier:"  — 

"Dr.  Dana  was  an  admirable  scholar  of  the  old  school 
of  classicists  and  divines,  an  extremely  elegant  and 
forcible  writer  of  English,  and  has  always  been  one  of 
the  chief  lights  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  affec- 
tionate disposition  and  nice  conscientiousness  made  him 


244  NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH. 

a  most  faithful  and  valuable  pastor;  and  in  all  the  exer- 
cises of  his  office  he  was  a  model,  as  he  had  long  been  the 
patriarch  of  his  denomination  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
Few  clergymen  were  better  known,  none  more  endeared 
to  a  very  extended  circle.  Dr.  Dana  was  for  many 
years  minister  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  New- 
buryport,  afterwards  President  of  Dartmouth  College, 
and  finally  a  resident  of  his  early  home  ;  where,  while 
unable  to  fulfil  the  regular  duties  of  the  ministry,  he 
long  officiated  as  a  home  missionary,  and  was  received 
by  multitudes  as  a  welcome  and  venerated  guest.  No 
man  ever  lived  a  more  exemplary  and  blameless  life ; 
and  the  memory  of  his  goodness,  of  his  amiable  aspect, 
of  his  polished  manners,  and  truly  venerable  appearance, 
cannot  fade  away  from  the  minds  of  those  who  had  the 
happiness  to  be  numbered  among  his  friends." 

Another  writes, — 

"  Dr.  Dana  was  emphatically  an  old-school  gentle- 
man and  divine.  He  was  one  of  the  most  courteous 
and  agreeable  of  men  in  his  manners,  and  one  of  the 
most  faithful  and  affectionate  of  pastors. 

"As  a  writer,  he  was  distinguished  for  simplicity  and 
purity  of  style  ;  as  a  thinker,  for  clearness  and  discrimi- 
nation. He  held  with  undeviating  firmness  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Westminster  Catechism,  as  interpreted  by 
the  old-school  theologians.  In  fact,  he  was  old  school 
in  every  thing,  —  manners,  divinity,  and  piety  ;  and  a 
better  type  of  all  these  cannot  easily  be  found. 

"Few  clergymen  have  been  more  widely  known  than 
the  deceased ;  and  it  rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  man  to 
enjoy  so  large  a  share  of  respect,  esteem,  and  honor,  as 
has  been  awarded  him  by  all  classes  and  sects  during 
his  loug,  active,  and  useful  life.     Dr.  Dana's  appearance 


NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH.  245 

was  very  striking :  his  expansive  forehead,  intelligent 
eyes,  intellectual  features,  and  spirited  expression,  com- 
bined to  inspire  veneration  wherever  he  was  present. 
Of  late,  he  has  received  great  attention  from  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  strangers  who  have  visited  the  city  of  his 
residence  ;  and  the  closing  years  of  his  life  have  been 
cheered  by  those  who  will  never  forget  his  gentle  and 
affectionate  teachings."  —  Boston  Transcript. 

Another  writer  says,  — 

"  The  long  and  eminently  useful  life  thus  closed,  the 
rare  qualities  of  the  deceased,  and  the  reputation,  so 
unsullied  and  extended,  which  he  enjoyed  among  the 
last  and  the  present  generations,  make  something  more 
than  an  ordinary  obituary  notice  becoming  and  neces- 
sary. 

"Though  firm  in  his  opinions,  and  uncompromising, 
if  need  be,  in  their  expression,  he  was  singnlarly  ur- 
bane and  prepossessing  in  his  manners.  No  better 
specimen  of  the  Christian  gentleman  could  be  found. 

"He  was  universally  beloved,  and  one  of  the  few  who 
had  not  an  enemy." 

From  distant  California,  a  correspondent  of  one  of 
the  Newburyport  papers  wrote,  — 

"  I  see  by  '  The  Herald '  that  the  venerable  patriarch 
has  gone  to  his  rest  at  last.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Dana  is 
dead.  Like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe,  he  has  been 
gathered  in.  I  have  often  heard  the  inquiry  made  of 
new  comers  from  Newburyport,  '  Is  Rev.  Dr.  Dana  liv- 
ing yet  ?  '  How  well  we  remember  that  venerable 
form,  that  kindly  face  !  But  he  has  passed  away  after 
a  long  life  of  peculiar  usefulness,  and  most  honestly 
can  we  write  his  epitaph,  — '  A  Good  Man.'  " 

The  notices  of  the  religious  press  and  of  private  cor- 
21* 


246  NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH. 

respondents,  were  too  numerous  for  extended  citation. 
One  who  had  known  him  well  *  thus  writes  :  "  The  im- 
age of  Christ  shone  very  brightly  in  your  beloved  and 
venerable  father,  and  its  lustre  was  admirably  blended 
with  that  of  fine  natural  qualities  and  high  mental  and 
social  culture." 

The  Synod  of  Albany  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions :  — 

"  Whereas,  it  has  pleased  God  to  call  to  his  heavenly 
rest  our  venerated  father,  Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  D.D.,  of 
Newburyport,  Mass. :  therefore  Resolved,  — 

"1.  That  this  Synod  records  its  grateful  acknowl- 
edgments to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for  the  gift 
of  this  honored  and  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel,  in 
whose  character  we  have  so  luminous  and  expressive 
an  exhibition  of  the  sanctifying  power  of  the  truth,  in 
whose  laborious  and  heroic  defence  of  the  doctrines  of 
our  holy  religion  we  have  an  instance  of  fidelity  so 
worthy  of  our  imitation,  and  in  whose  long  and  use- 
ful life  so  much  was  done  under  the  divine  blessing  for 
the  salvation  of  the  world. 

"  2.  That  the  fall  of  this  standard-bearer  in  Israel  re- 
minds us  of  our  own  mortality,  and  that  our  depend- 
ence is  not  in  an  arm  of  flesh,  but  in  the  arm  of  the 
Omnipotent  God,  who  is  able  to  supply  the  instrumen- 
talities needed  to  carry  on  his  work ;  and  hence  our 
duty  is  to  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth 
more  laborers  into  the  vineyard." 

Of  more  recent  date  is  the  following  extract  from 
the  "  Newburyport  Recollections"  of  Mr.  James  Morss, 
son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morss,  so  long  the  highly  respected 

*  Rev.  John  Proudfit,  D.D.,  one  of  his  successors  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church. 


NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH.  247 

rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Newburyport.  The 
lamented  death  of  Mr.  Morss  occurred  very  soon  after 
he  had  written  thus :  — 

"The  late  venerable  Dr.  Dana,  who  so  long  went  in 
and  out  among  the  people  composing  his  congrega- 
tion, was  an  acknowledged  theologian,  and  eminent  as 
a  writer.  In  person  he  was  slender,  in  air  and  man- 
ner he  was  mild  and  winning ;  and  no  passing  events 
of  exciting  interest,  whether  personal  or  otherwise, 
could  for  an  instant  disturb  his  calm  benignity. 
Towards  him  respect  was  awarded,  as  by  common  con- 
sent, for  the  splendor  of  his  Christian  character.  I  have 
always  made  it  a  specialty,  when  visiting  your  town 
during  the  later  years  of  the  life  of  our  venerated  friend, 
to  honor  myself  by  a  call  of  respect  upon  him.  But 
the  grave  now  closes  over  his  remains;  and  when  earth 
to  earth,  and  dust  to  dust,  was  pronounced  or  medi- 
tated at  his  grave,  it  probably  never  consigned  to  earth 
a  casket  which  once  contained  a  soul  of  purer  and 
more  heavenly  aspirations.  He  was  the  friend  of  my 
kindred,  and  by  them  beloved,  respected,  and  honored. 
He  was  the  friend  of  man ;  and  all  wdio  knew  him 
were  also  his  friends.  He  was  a  Christian  soldier  and 
a  Christian  patriot,  whose  devoted  and  prayerful  utter- 
ances were  ever  for  God  and  his  country.  Requi- 
escat  in  pace? 

Thus  have  we  traced  his  long  day  of  life  —  from  the 
dewy  freshness  of  its  morning,  through  its  hours  of  al- 
ternating cloud  and  brightness,  down  to  that  serene 
and  glorious  sunset,  to  our  eyes  an  attractive  vision,  to 
his,  the  dawn  of  an  eternal  day. 

Not  alone  as  a  tribute  to  his  memory  has  this  record 


248  NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH. 

been  prepared ;  but  in  the  hope  that,  ministering  spir- 
itual strength  to  others,  it  may  subserve  the  holy  pur- 
poses to  which  his  life  was  devoted.  May  the  divine 
blessing  thus  attend  it ! 

It  was  remarkable  how  many  who  had  been  near  to 
him  in  life,  were  not  long  separated  from  him  in  death. 
But  a  few  months  rolled  by,  and  several  clergymen 
with  whom  he  had  been  for  a  long  series  of  years  asso- 
ciated, one  of  whom  had  spoken  at  his  funeral ;  a  be- 
loved niece,  long  intimate  in  his  family ;  his  son-in- 
law,  Rev.  John  M.  C.  Bartley,  of  kindred  sentiments 
and  spirit  with  himself,  —  were  all  numbered  with  the 
dead.  Lastly,  his  son,  Daniel  Dana,  jun.,  of  New  York, 
who  of  all  his  children  most  resembled  him  in  many 
striking  traits,  died  at  Newburyport,  Feb.  12, 1861. 

In  the  Oakhill  Cemetery,  on  a  spot  from  which 
spreads  out  a  magnificent  prospect  of  city  and  country, 
river  and  ocean  (the  spire  and  the  tower  of  the  two 
churches  associated  with  his  name  are  both  in  view), 
a  chaste  and  beautiful  monument  bears  these  inscrip- 
tions :  — 


NOTICES  OF  HIS  DEATH.  249 


The  Reverend 
DANIEL    DANA,    D.D., 

of  blessed  memory. 

Sixty-six  years  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  ;  of  which  sixty  were  in  New- 
buryport. 

Born  July  24,  1771 ;  died  Aug.  26,  1859. 

"A    MAN    GREATLY    BELOVED." Daniel  X.  11. 

"After  he  had  served  his  own  generation  by 

THE  WILL  OF  GOD  HE  FELL  ON  SLEEP." Acts  Xlii.  36. 


how  good,  how  kind,  how  upright  and  honor- 
able, how  firm  in  loyalty  to*  truth,  how  guile- 
less, how  saintly,  let  those  say  from  whose 
hearts  the  dear  remembrance  of  the  christian 
pastor,  the  sympathizing  friend,  the  affection- 
ate father,  can  never  fade  away. 

Resurgam. 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  DR.  DANA. 

BY  W.  B.  SPRAGUE,  D.D. 


The  true  index  to  the  character  is  the  life  —  we 
infer  what  a  man  is  from  what  he  does.  Especially 
does  this  remark  apply,  where  the  outer  man  is  only 
the  spontaneous  flowing  forth  of  the  inner  —  where  no 
cunning  and  tortuous  spirit  is  suffered  to  intervene  to 
prevent  the  doings  of  the  hands  and  the  utterances  of  the 
lips  from  answering  faithfully  to  the  movements  of  the 
heart.  It  is  hardly  needful  to  say  that  it  is  the  life  of 
an  eminently  guileless,  and,  in  the  best  sense,  simple- 
hearted  individual,  that  is  narrated  in  the  preceding 
pages  ;  and  it  may  safely  be  presumed  that  no  one  who 
has  traced  his  interesting  career,  and  marked  his  con- 
duct in  the  various  relations  he  sustained,  and  the 
various  positions  of  difficulty  and  trial,  of  high  respon- 
sibility and  honorable  usefulness,  which  he  occupied, 
can  fail  to  have  a  definite  idea  of  all  the  prominent 
qualities  of  his  mind  and  heart.  Still,  as  his  children, 
in  whose  wishes  I  recognize  a  law,  have  intimated  a 
desire  that  I  should  sum  up  the  narrative  of  his  life, 
which  is  itself  a  fitting  and  grateful  offering  of  filial 
devotion,  by  a  brief  estimate  of  his  character,  I  cheer- 
fully undertake  the  office  which  their  kindness  has 
assigned  to  me.     It  is  due  to  candor,  however,  to  state 

250 


„    RECOLLECTIONS.  251 

that  my  acquaintance  with  this  venerable  man  did  not 
commence  till  I  had  been  some  years  in  the  ministry ; 
that  my  intercourse  with  him,  though  free  and  intimate, 
has  never  been  more  than  occasional ;  though  I  have 
somehow  felt  that  I  had  penetrated  into  the  interior  of 
his  heart,  and  the  embarrassment  which  I  feel  in 
writing  about  him,  results,  not  from  my  being  in  doubt 
in  respect  to  any  points  of  his  character,  but  from  a 
conscious  inability  to  transfer  to  other  minds  the  im- 
pression which  he  has  left  upon  my  own.  I  shall 
attempt  nothing  beyond  a  mere  outline. 

Dr.  Dana's  personal  appearance,  if  not  imposing,  was 
altogether  prepossessing,  and  prepared  one  to  find  in 
his  character  the  fine  intellectual  and  moral  qualities 
which  an  acquaintance  with  him  was  sure  to  reveal. 
He  was  rather  above  the  middle  height,  and  was  sym- 
metrically formed;  though,  in  his  latter  years  particular- 
ly, his  head,  as  he  stood  or  walked,  had  a  slight  inclina- 
tion forward.  In  his  countenance,  it  was  difficult  to  say 
whether  the  intellectual  or  the  moral  had  the  predomi- 
nance ;  but  no  one  could  see  him  without  being  struck 
with  the  expression  of  earnest  thoughtfulness  on  the 
one  hand,  and  intense  benevolence  on  the  other.  There 
was  a  look  of  calm  dignity,  I  had  almost  said  of  mod- 
est reserve,  that  could  hardly  fail  to  elicit  a  deferential 
regard,  even  from  a  stranger  who  should  meet  him  in 
the  market-place.  His  movements,  without  being  par- 
ticularly graceful,  were  simple  and  natural,  and  seemed 
to  indicate  a  consciousness  of  having  something  to  do. 
In  his  manners  he  was  bland,  quiet,  genial,  self-pos- 
sessed —  he  was  generally  grave,  though  he  had  a  vein 
of  humor  that  occasionally  flashed  out  in  innocent 
merriment,  rendering  him  quite  the  life  of  the  social 


252  RECOLLECTIONS. 

circle.  It  is  presumed  that  his  whole  life  might  be 
safely  challenged  for  a  single  act  that  could  reasonably 
be  considered  as  inconsistent  with  the  dignity  of  either 
a  gentleman  or  a  Christian. 

Dr.  Dana's  intellect  was  at  once  comprehensive, 
acute,  clear,  and  thorough.  In  his  investigations  of 
truth,  he  descended  to  first  principles,  and,  having 
planted  himself  first  on  a  basis  that  he  felt  sure  could 
not  be  moved,  he  gradually  worked  his  way  onward  to 
a  remote  conclusion,  each  successive  step  bringing  him 
into  a  brighter  and  still  brighter  light.  He  had  the 
power  of  discerning  the  minute  differences  of  things 
with  great  accuracy,  and  though  he  would  sometimes 
hold  a  difficult  subject  to  his  mind  for  a  long  time  in 
patient  investigation,  yet  he  would  never  leap  at  a 
conclusion  in  the  dark,  or  suffer  himself  to  be  bewil- 
dered by  a  premature  admission  of  what  he  could  not 
see  clearly.  With  his  uncommon  powers  of  analysis 
he  combined  a  remarkably  exact  and  cultivated  taste  — 
insomuch  that  his  ordinai'y  compositions  would  very 
well  bear  to  be  referred  to  the  most  rigid  standard. 
His  memory  also  was  much  more  than  ordinarily  tena- 
cious, and  it  was  interesting  to  see  how,  even  in  his  old 
age,  the  results  of  his  early  reading,  as  well  as  his  long- 
continued  observation,  seemed  to  be  entirely  at  his 
command.  An  extraordinary  fondness  for  study  had 
been  among  his  earliest  developments;  and  this  did 
not  become  less  as  he  advanced  in  life ;  and  the  conse- 
quence of  this  early  and  ever-enduring  habit,  in  con- 
nection with  the  best  opportunities  for  improvement, 
was,  that  he  attained  to  a  very  high  degree  of  intellect- 
ual culture.  As  his  mind  was  originally  cast  in  a 
mould  of  uncommon  symmetry,  so  there   was  a  due 


RECOLLECTIONS.  253 

proportion  maintained  in  the  cultivation  of  his  differ- 
ent faculties;  and  hence  the  whole  intellectual  man 
attracted  your  attention  and  admiration,  rather  than  any- 
one distinguishing  feature. 

Dr.  Dana  was,  in  some  respects,  highly  favored  in  his 
moral  constitution ;  though  his  moral  character  was  so 
identified  with  his  religious,  that  it  is  impossible  to  do 
justice  to  the  one  without  taking  into  view  the  other. 
He  had  naturally  warm  and  generous  sensibilities :  his 
heart  was  alive  to  the  joys  of  friendship,  and  it  vibrated 
in  quick  response  to  every  note  of  sorrow.  He  united 
great  gentleness  with  great  firmness  :  his  tones  were 
always  bland,  his  words  and  manner  always  kind,  and 
it  evidently  cost  him  a  sacrifice  to  take  the  attitude  of 
an  antagonist  in  any  thing ;  but  no  flatteries  could 
beguile  him,  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  into  the 
semblance  of  a  compromise  of  his  own  honest  convic- 
tions. His  firmness  may  have  sometimes  been  mis- 
taken for  obstinacy ;  but  it  was  not  even  akin  to  it. 
He  was  firm  because  he  was  conscientious  —  because 
he  felt,  that,  come  what  would,  God  must  be  obeyed 
rather  than  man.  He  would  not  needlessly  give  offence 
to  a  mortal ;  but,  if  this  must  be  the  alternative  to  the 
following  out  of  his  honest  convictions  of  duty,  his 
course  was  so  plain  that  he  had  no  occasion  to  bestow 
upon  it  a  thought.  However  he  might  differ  from  an 
individual  in  resf>ectto  religion  or  any  other  subject,  he 
never  felt  himself  called  upon,  for  that  reason,  to  treat 
him  with  coolness  or  discourtesy,  or  withhold  from  him 
any  expression  of  good  will,  though  he  may  have  felt 
constrained  to  do  what  he  could  to  convince  him  of 
what  he  believed  to  be  his  error.  One  of  his  most 
intimate  and  valued  friends,  as  appears  from  the  narra- 
22 


254  RECOLLECTIONS. 

tive  of  his  life,  was  the  late  Dr.  Benjamin  Abbot,  long 
the  accomplished  and  honored  Principal  of  the  Phillips 
Exeter  Academy,  who  is  understood  to  have  held  some 
form  of  Unitarianism ;  and  though  there  is  no  doubt 
that  Dr.  Dana,  in  all  fidelity  to  his  convictions,  con- 
versed with  him  freely  and  earnestly  on  the  points  of 
difference  between  them,  yet  it  is  evident  that  their 
early  friendship  never  lost  any  degree  of  its  intensity, 
so  long  as  they  were  both  among  the  living. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  in  this  connection, 
that  Dr.  Dana,  in  all  his  intercourse  and  deportment, 
was  a  fine  example  of  Christian  prudence.  His  tongue 
had  never  learned  to  utter  harsh,  or  bitter,  or  even 
hasty  words  ;  but  it  had  been  trained  to  move  in  obe- 
dience to  the  law  of  kindness.  He  was  always  most 
considerate  of  time,  and  place,  and  circumstances,  and 
never,  by  any  random  speech  in  a  promiscuous  com- 
pany, run  the  hazard  of  giving  offence  or  pain  to  any 
one  present.  He  was  social  and  communicative  on  all 
ordinary  occasions,  but  he  was  sure  to  hold  his  peace 
when  he  had  nothing  to  say.  His  cautious  and  concili- 
atory spirit,  in  connection  with  his  acknowledged  gen- 
eral wisdom,  gave  him  great  consideration  as  a  counsel- 
lor ;  and  in  this  capacity  he  was  often  put  in  requisition, 
and  most  successfully,  not  only  to  settle  private  con- 
troversies, but  to  restore  harmony  to  contending  and 
distracted  congregations. 

He  possessed  great  natural  sensitiveness;  and  possi- 
bly this  sometimes  took  on  a  morbid  form,  and  gave  a 
sombre  and  desponding  hue  to  some  of  his  judgments 
and  feelings.  When  he  was  called  to  the  presidency 
of  Dartmouth  College,  all  his  convictions  and  predilec- 
tions were   at   first  adverse  to  an  acceptance  of  the 


RECOLLECTIONS.  255 

appointment :  but  the  earnest  wishes  of  his  friends  and 
the  friends  of  the  college,  together  with  their  enthusias- 
tic predictions  of  his  complete  success,  proved  an  over- 
match for  his  first  decided  preference,  and  he  was 
brought,  though  most  reluctantly,  to  the  conclusion, 
that  perhaps  it  was  his  duty  to  take  the  new  position 
that  was  offered  to  him;  though  it  is  doubtful  whether 
he  was  altogether  free  from  misgivings  when  he  accept- 
ed the  appointment.  The  result  of  this  movement 
seemed,  perhaps,  one  of  the  most  mysterious  events  of 
his  life.  Scarcely  had  the  voice  of  gratulation  in  con- 
nection with  the  inaugural  ceremonies  died  away,  be- 
fore his  health  became  seriously  impaired,  his  mind 
became  cheerless  and  despondent,  and  he  was  oppressed 
by  the  gloomy  conviction  of  his  utter  inadequacy  to 
the  duties  he  had  undertaken ;  and  after  a  very  brief 
experiment,  —  too  brief,  many  would  have  said,  —  in 
which  he  seems  to  have  had  little  enjoyment,  and  to 
have  thought  that  his  hopes  of  usefulness  were  but 
poorly  realized,  he  tendered  the  resignation  of  his 
office.  Without  deciding  whether  or  not  he  reached  a 
wise  conclusion  in  this  matter,  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that,  with  stronger  nerve  and  more  vigorous  health,  he 
would  at  least  have  waited  longer  before  he  retired 
from  a  place  in  which  he  had  already  become  fixed, 
and  for  which  his  friends  believed  that  he  possessed 
high  qualifications. 

Dr.  Dana  was  an  eminently  devout  man.  It  was 
impossible  to  be  in  habits  of  intercourse  with  him, 
without  feeling  one's  self  in  contact  with  a  heart  that 
was  glowing  with  love  to  Christ,  and  in  intimate  com- 
munion with  him.  He  did  not  make  this  manifest  so 
much  by  set  and  formal  conversations,  as  by  those  inci- 


256  RECOLLECTIONS. 

dental  and  apparently  unconscious  outgoings,  which, 
where  the  heart  is  full,  nothing  can  suppress,  and  no 
one  ever  heard  him  pray,  without .  feeling  that  he 
was  not  only  at  home  in  the  exercise,  but  greatly  de- 
lighted in  it.  Humility,  faith,  reverence,  gratitude, 
every  element  of  devotion,  was  beautifully  represented 
in  his  fervent  addresses  at  the  throne  of  mercy. 

He  was,  moreover,  a  model  of  Christian  consisten- 
cy. Sometimes  men  who  talk  much  and  pray  much, 
after  all  do  little;  or  else  they  do  so  much  in  the  wrong 
direction,  and  in  the  wrong  manner,  that  even  Charity 
herself  is  obliged  to  pause  before  deciding  upon  then- 
probable  character.  Not  so  with  the  venerable  man 
who  is  the  subject  of  these  remarks  :  with  him,  prayer 
and  alms,  faith  and  works,  went  together  —  because  he 
endeavored  to  conform  every  part  of  his  conduct  to 
the  Bible  standard,  there  were  no  unsightly  protuber- 
ances in  his  character,  —  nothing  to  outrage  a  correct 
taste,  or  shock  one's  sensibilities,  or  suggest  the  inquiry, 
how  so  much  that  is  good  can  consist  with  so  much 
that  is  exceptionable.  He  was  careful  not  only  to  cul- 
tivate every  grace,  but  to  cultivate  each  in  due  pro- 
portion ;  and  thus  it  was,  that  even  the  world,  and 
the  most  scrutinizing  and  captious  portion  of  it, 
awarded  to  him  the  high  praise  of  being  a  consistent 
Christian. 

Dr.  Dana  was  a  well-read  and  able  theologian.  He 
had  made  theology  his  study  from  early  life,  and  he 
always  delighted  in  it.  The  system  which  he  received 
in  the  beginning,  was  the  same  to  which  he  held  fast 
to  the  end  :  it  was  not  only  Calvinism  as  opposed  to 
Arminianism,  but  Calvinism  as  opposed  to  Hopkinsian- 
ism,  —  the  real,  undiluted  Puritan  theology.     Though 


RECOLLECTIONS.  257 

he  had  a  mind  capable  of  profound  philosophical  re- 
search, he  allowed  philosophy  little  scope  in  settling  or 
shaping-  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  The  one  only  in- 
quiry which  he  was  interested  to  answer  was,  "What 
saith  the  Scripture?"  and  that  point  once  settled,  his 
faith  was  as  firm  as  a  mountain.  Wherever  he  thought 
he  detected  any  departure  from  "  the  old  paths,"  he  al- 
ways stood  ready  to  bear  his  testimony  against  it,  no 
matter  how  great  the  sacrifice  it  might  cost  him.  But 
notwithstanding  he  contended  so  earnestly  for  the  puri- 
ty of  the  faith,  he  never  seemed  partial  to  the  extreme 
technology  of  any  school ;  and  it  happened,  in  one  or 
more  instances,  that  his  own  orthodoxy  was  temporarily 
at  a  discount,  from  the  fact  that  he  used  either  too 
sparingly,  or  not  at  all,  some  of  the  accredited  religious 
phraseology  of  the  day.  His  theological  views  were 
well  defined,  and  as  he  held  them  with  undoubting 
confidence,  so  he  was  ready  to  defend  them  with  great 
skill  at  whatever  point  they  might  be  assailed. 

Dr.  Dana  was  an  admirable  preacher.  He  had  fine 
natural  qualifications  for  the  pulpit,  almost  the  only 
drawback  being  the  use  of  green  spectacles,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  early  and  enduring  injury  to  his  eyes,  by 
means  of  which  the  audience  lost  the  inspiriting  effect 
of  his  bright  and  animated  eye.  He  usually  preached 
from  a  manuscript,  though  he  extemporized  with  great 
ease,  and  of  many  of  his  discourses,  nothing  beyond 
the  starting  outline  was  written.  His  voice  was  rich, 
sonorous,  and  mellow,  and,  in  its  full  volume,  was  large 
enough  to  fill  a  church  of  the.  largest  dimensions  ; 
though  its  tones  were  not  greatly  varied.  He  spoke 
with  great  fervor  and  unction,  and  showed  evidently 
that  he  was  absorbed  in  his  subject,  though  he  had  but 


258  RECOLLECTIONS. 

little  gesture,  and  there  was  no  approach  to  any  thing 
declamatory  or  boisterous.  If  his  elocution  was  not 
particularly  graceful,  it  was  highly  effective  —  it  was 
the  soul  coining  out  in  rich  and  earnest  thoughts  and 
well  adapted  words.  The  matter  of  his  preaching  was 
intensely  evangelical.  In  the  selection  of  his  themes, 
he  always  kept  near  the  Cross ;  and,  in  his  treatment  of 
them,  he  made  no  show  of  learning  beyond  what  his 
subject  manifestly  required.  His  preaching  was  happily 
divided  between  the  doctrinal,  the  practical,  and  the 
experimental ;  or  rather  they  all  harmoniously  com- 
mingled in  almost  every  discourse.  He  reasoned,  and 
often  with  great  power ;  hut  his  reasoning  was  so  sim- 
ple and  luminous  as  to  be  within  the  comprehension 
of  the  humblest  of  his  hearers.  He  dealt  in  great 
fidelity  with  the  Church,  drawing  the  line  most  care- 
fully between  true  and  fiilse  religion,  and  urging  upon 
all  who  had  named  the  name  of  Christ,  not  only  to 
depart  from  iniquity,  but  to  let  their  light  shine.  In 
his  appeals  to  the  careless  and  ungodly,  he  was  most 
persuasive  and  impressive,  and  sometimes  the  terrors 
of  the  law  went  forth  from  his  lips  in  words  of  burning 
import.  It  was  impossible  to  listen  to  him  without 
being  impressed  with  the  idea  that  every  sentence  that 
he  uttered  came  from  his  inmost  soul ;  and  that  he 
knew  no  other  motive  in  preaching  the  gospel  than 
to  glorify  his  Master  in  saving  the  souls  of  his  fellow- 
men. 

He  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  more  private 
duties  of  a  pastor,  and  his  heart  rejoiced  in  the  dis- 
charge of  them.  Constituted  as  he  was  with  quick  and 
generous  sympathies,  with  an  ear  and  a  heart  always 
^vake  and  open  to  the  tale  of  woe,  he  was  like  an 


RECOLLECTIONS.  259 

angel  of  mercy  in  the  chamber  of  sickness,  at  the  bed 
of  death,  and  amidst  scenes  of  bereavement ;  and  it  is 
no  wonder  that  his  services  in  this  capacity  should 
often  have  been  sought,  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own 
immediate  charge.  He  was  emphatically  the  friend  of 
the  poor ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  this  beauti- 
ful feature  of  his  character  that  suggested  to  some  of 
his  friends,  after  he  resigned  his  last  pastoral  charge, 
the  idea  of  his  being  employed,  as  his  strength  might 
permit,  as  a  minister  at  large  ;  and  probably  it  was  this 
that  predisposed  him  to  accept  their  kind  proposals. 
In  this  humble  field,  his  sympathetic  heart  found  objects 
enough  to  act  upon.  As  the  venerable  man  who  had, 
for  almost  sixty  years,  been  an  object  of  grateful  respect 
not  only  in  his  own  city  and  State,  but  throughout 
New  England,  passed  around  from  street  to  street, 
stepping  into  one  wretched  hovel  after  another,  and 
leaving  there  his  blessing  in  the  form  of  words  of  ten- 
der sympathy,  or  Christian  counsel,  or  fervent  prayer, 
his  name  became  deeply  engraven  on  the  hearts  of 
those  to  whom  he  thus  ministered  ;  and  no  doubt  some 
of  them,  in  the  grateful  remembrance  of  those  visits, 
have  already  heaped  their  benedictions  upon  him  in  a 
better  world. 

Dr.  Dana  was  little  disposed  to  put  himself  forward 
as  a  leader  in  deliberative  bodies  —  his  naturally  modest 
and  retiring  spirit  rather  disposed  him  to  keep  him- 
self in  the  background ;  and  yet  he  could  be  active 
and  earnest  enough  when  he  felt  that  the  occasion 
required  it ;  and  his  acknowledged  remarkable  sound- 
ness of  judgment  and  prudent  foresight  gave  great 
weight  to  his  opinions,  however  briefly  or  casually 
expressed.     Indeed,  so   much  was  he  respected   and 


260  RECOLLECTIONS. 

honored,  that  his  very  presence,  even  when  lie  kept 
silent,  was  felt  to  be  an  element  of  power. 

Dr.  Dana,  as  might  naturally  be  inferred  from  the 
intellectual  qualities  already  attributed  to  him,  ranked 
among  the  best  writers  of  his  day.  Most  of  his  pub- 
lished works  are  occasional  discourses,  though  he  is 
the  author  of  two  or  three  pamphlets  which  are  of  a 
decidedly  controversial  character.  He  had  great 
facility  at  adapting  himself  to  an  occasion,  and  seemed 
always  to  enter  fully  into  the  spirit  of  it,  seizing,  as  if 
by  intuition,  upon  its  most  prominent  characteristics. 
In  controversy,  he  never  lost  his  self-possession,  or 
good  temper,  or  regard  to  Christian  decorum ;  but, 
while  he  evidently  wrote  under  a  deep  sense  of  the 
importance  of  his  subject,  and  of  the  responsibility 
pertaining  to  the  attitude  which  he  had  assumed, 
he  was  always  perfectly  respectful  in  the  treatment 
of  his  antagonist.  Even  those  who  did  not  sym- 
pathize in  the  views  which  he  was  endeavoring  to 
establish,  admired  the  carefulness  and  the  candor  with 
which  he  stated  them,  as  well  as  the  force  and  discrim- 
ination with  which  he  defended  them.  A  crowning 
excellence  of  his  writing  was  the  precision,  simplicity, 
and  purity  of  his  style  —  he  had  made  the  best  English 
writers  a  study,  and  had  imperceptibly  imbibed  their 
excellences,  without  attempting  to  imitate  them. 
Though  there  are  many  whose  productions  contain 
more  that  is  bold  and  striking,  and  to  the  common 
mind  attractive,  it  may  safely  be  said  there  are  but  few 
who  more  rarely  or  more  lightly  offend  against  good 
taste  and  good  logic,  than  Dr.  Dana. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add,  that  Dr.  Dana  was  an 
earnest  friend  of  revivals  of  religion ;  and  he  labored 


EECOLLECTIONS.  261 

to  promote  them,  by  every  legitimate  means,  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability.  But  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  strict 
adherent  to  all  the  principles  of  evangelical  order;  and 
would  never,  even  under  circumstances  of  the  greatest 
excitement,  consent  to  the  slightest  compromise  of 
Christian  decorum.  He  did  not  indeed  doubt  that 
much  good  is  often  accomplished  where  the  great  truth, 
that  God  is  a  God  of  order,  is  practically,  to  some 
extent,  overlooked ;  but  as  he  saw  no  warrant  in  the 
Bible,  and  certainly  found  none  in  his  own  inherent 
sense  of  Christian  propriety,  for  the  irregularities  and 
extravagances  which  have  sometimes  been  exhibited, 
even  within  the  limits  of  his  own  communion,  he  felt 
constrained,  wherever  he  met  them,  to  resist  them, 
as  at  least  marring  the  revival  with  which  they  were 
connected,  if  they  did  not  vitiate  it  altogether.  He 
looked  for  the  evidences  of  a  genuine  work  of  God's 
Spirit  rather  in  a  deep  and  all-pervading  solemnity, 
than  in  an  overflow  of  animal  feeling;  rather  in  the 
utterances  of  the  "still  small  voice,"  than  in  the  storm 
and  the  earthquake. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  Dr.  Dana,  that  he  was 
one  of  the  most  able,  devoted,  useful  ministers  of  the 
period  in  which  he  lived.  Happily  his  early  training 
was  under  the  best  influences ;  and  that,  with  a  natu- 
rally docile  spirit  and  wakeful  conscience,  proved, 
under  the  divine  care  and  guidance,  an  adequate 
security  against  all  youthful  aberrations.  Neither  he 
nor  his  friends  ever  had  occasion  to  look  back  to  a 
period  in  which  he  had  even  begun  to  walk  in  the 
counsel  of  the  ungodly,  or  to  stand  in  the  way  of  sin- 
ners. Even  before  he  became  the  subject  of  a  spiritual 
renovation,  he  was  uniformly  exemplary  in  his  conduct, 


262  RECOLLECTIONS. 

and  strongly  attracted  to  himself  all  with  whom  he 
had  intercourse.  But,  from  the  commencement  of  his 
Christian  life,  he  seems  to  have  been  a  shining  light, 
ever  shining  brighter  —  as  new  spheres  of  usefulness 
successively  opened  to  him,  his  heart  expanded  in 
broader  sympathy  with  all  the  great  interests  of 
humanity,  and  his  mind  woke  to  a  correspondingly 
higher  tone  of  effort  to  promote  the  well-being  of  all 
who  were  within  his  reach.  In  the  gracious  ordering 
of  Providence,  his  first  and  principal  field  of  ministerial 
labor  was  one  which,  while,  from  the  elevated  tone  of 
society  in  the  neighborhood,  it  furnished  excellent 
advantages  for  intellectual  and  social  culture,  was  also 
admirably  adapted  to  bring  his  various  faculties  into 
exercise  in  the  best  manner  and  to  the  best  purpose. 
From  the  time  that  his  connection  with  Dartmouth 
College  ceased,  the  congregations  to  which  he  minis- 
tered were  less  prominent  in  their  relation  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  than  that  of  which  he  had  pre- 
viously had  the  charge  ;  but,  even  in  these  narrower 
spheres,  his  active  and  devoted  life  could  not  but  tell 
powerfully  upon  the  interests  of  truth  and  piety  ;  and 
indeed,  though  he  was  eminently  faithful  to  those  who 
were  under  his  immediate  care,  his  example  was 
always  shining  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  community, 
and  his  general  influence  went  out  through  innume- 
rable channels  to  bless  the  Church  and  the  world  at 
large.  It  was  impossible,  that,  with  so  meek  and 
unobtrusive  a  spirit  as  he  possessed,  he  should  have 
ever  put  himself  forward  in  any  enterprise  where  he 
could  labor  with  equal  advantage  in  subordination  to 
others  ;  but  his  whole  life,  though  noiseless  as  the  dew, 
was   a   calm   and   steady  course   of  efficient  activity. 


RECOLLECTIONS.  263 

His  influence  in  connection  with  different  institutions ; 
his  influence  upon  the  Christian  ministry,  especially  in 
rebuking  the  vagaries  of  fanaticism  in  regard  to  revivals 
of  religion  ;  his  influence  in  the  higher  walks  of  society, 
in  inspiring  respect  for  his  office,  and  checking  the 
tendencies  to  a  perversion  of  God's  gifts,  and  in  the 
lower  walks  of  society,  by  mingling  with  them  as  a 
helper  and  a  comforter,  and  quickening  their  self- 
respect,  and  counselling  them  how  to  live,  and  directing 
their  views  upward,  —  his  influence,  exerted  through 
these  various  channels  and  over  these  widely  extended 
fields,  must  be  seen  in  the  light  that  shines  beyond  the 
dark  valley,  before  any  adequate  estimate  can  be 
formed  of  it.  But  his  great  and  good  influence  has 
survived  him  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  it  is  rising,  and 
deepening,  and  spreading  like  the  light  of  Heaven  ;  and, 
after  centuries  have  rolled  over  his  grave,  his  quiet  and 
godly  life  on  earth  will  still  be  perpetuated  in  the 
character  and  destiny  of  each  passing  generation. 
This  thought  is  rich  in  consolation,  when  applied  to 
any  good  man  ;  but  in  reference  to  one  whose  whole 
life,  as  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Dana,  has  been  one  steady, 
earnest,  loving,  protracted  course  of  self-consecration 
to  God  and  man,  it  comes  upon  us  as  a  distinct  bene- 
diction. When  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall  be  re- 
vealed, and  each  one  shall  be  able  to  read,  by  the  light 
that  shines  around  the  eternal  throne,  the  history  of 
the  formation  of  his  own  character,  no  doubt  multi- 
tudes who  never  on  earth  knew  their  obligation  to 
him,  will  stand  forth  the  glorified  witnesses  to  his 
fidelity. 

As  Dr.  Dana's  course  through  life  was  marked  by 
eminent  usefulness,  so  he  was  eminently  honored  both 


264  RECOLLECTIONS. 

in  the  Church  and  in  the  world.  As  he  was  incapable 
of  all  unworthy  concealment,  so  he  passed  for  just 
what  he  was  —  the  judgment  which  the  public  formed 
of  him  was  in  accordance  with  what  they  saw ;  and 
they  saw  as  little  to  censure,  as  much  to  approve  and 
admire,  as  perhaps  in  any  other  man.  He  was  not  a 
time-server,  nor  a  man  who  hesitated  to  give  utterance 
to  his  convictions  when  bethought  duty  called,  though 
it  must  be  at  the  expense  of  differing  Avith  his  best 
friends  ;  but,  even  in  such  cases,  his  undoubted  integrity 
and  high  conscientiousness  could  not  but  command 
universal  respect.  In  every  place  in  which  he  lived, 
the  community  loved  and  venerated  him ;  and  many 
were  the  tokens  of  good-will  that  came  to  him  as  well 
from  those  in  low  places  as  in  high.  As  he  advanced 
in  years,  especially  as  he  drew  near  to  the  end  of  his 
course,  while  he  moved  about  with  patriarchal  dignity, 
he  was  looked  upon  with  the  reverence  to  which  a 
patriarch  would  be  entitled.  Whenever  he  appeared 
in  any  public  body,  especially  in  the  Presbytery  of 
which  lie  Avas  a  member,  his  brethren  instinctively 
testified  their  affectionate  respect  for  his  character,  and 
their  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  his  suggestions  and 
counsels.  After  he  had  become  too  infirm  to  leave  his 
chamber,  and  was  even  confined  to  his  bgd,  they  made 
him  a  farewell  visit,  as  they  Avould  have  gone  to  the 
chamber  of  Abraham  or  Jacob,  Avhen  he  was  gathering 
himself  up  to  die  ;  and  that  visit  aAvoke  both  his  facul- 
ties and  sensibilities  into  lively  exercise  ;  and  his  lips, 
and  his  eyes,  and  his  whole  visage,  became  eloquent, 
and  it  really  seemed  as  if  he  Avas  transfigured  before 
them.  They  Avere  completely  bowed  under  his  tender 
and  sublime  utterances ;   and  as  he  took  them  success- 


RECOLLECTIONS.  265 

ively  by  the  hand,  confident  that  he  should  see  their 
faces  no  more,  his  whole  soul  evidently  impressed 
itself  upon  the  last  benediction.  It  actually  seemed  as 
if  the  Heavens  had  come  down  into  that  chamber  to 
bear  the  waiting  spirit  upward.  And  when  the  day  of 
his  funeral  came,  the  whole  community  in  which  he 
lived  became  a  mourning  community,  —  the  addresses 
which  were  delivered  over  his  coffin  were  a  fitting 
tribute  to  his  exalted  worth,  —  a  testimony  that  no 
ordinary  light  had  been  extinguished,  —  the  prayers 
that  were  offered  were  the  breathings  of'deeply  smitten 
hearts  —  and  the  long  procession  that  followed  him 
to  his  last  resting-place,  instead  of  being  a  heartless 
and  unmeaning  pageant,  proclaimed,  silently  indeed, 
but  more  impressively  than  words  could  have  done, 
that  Heaven  had  claimed  one  of  the  purest,  brightest 
spirits  that  earth  had  to  lose.  And,  as  the  news  of  his 
death  went  abroad  through  the  land,  many  hearts 
were  set  to  throbbing  sadly  that  the  guide  of  their 
youth,  or  perhaps  the  friend  of  their  later  years,  was 
gone ;  while  the  whole  Church  mournfully  realized  that 
one  of  her  strong  pillars  had  been  stricken  down,  one 
of  her  brightest  stars  translated  to  a  higher  sphere. 
The  generation  which  he  has  left  has  already  embalmed 
his  memory ;  and  future  generations  will  take  care 
that  his  name,  his  character,  his  services,  are  not  for- 
gotten. 

I  regard  it  as  a  signal  privilege  that  I  was  permitted, 
for  many  years,  to  share  the  friendship  and  confi- 
dence of  this  venerable  man.  I  think  my  acquaintance 
with  him  commenced  in  1826,  on  occasion  of  my 
passing  a  Sabbath  in  Newburyport,  when,  by  his  re- 
quest, I  occupied  his  pulpit  a  part  of  the  day.     I  was 

23 


266  RECOLLECTIONS. 

struck  with  his  extremely  bland  and  unassuming  man- 
ner, the  great  kindliness  of  his  spirit,  and  the  good 
judgment  that  he  evinced  in  respect  to  every  subject 
that  we  conversed  upon.     The  next  time  I  met  him,  if 
my  memory  serves  me,  was  in  1827,  at  the  meeting  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Philadelphia,  both  of  us  being  delegates  to  that  body. 
He  appeared  there  with  his  characteristic  modesty,  and 
I  think  his  voice  was  scarcely  heard  in  any  of  the  de- 
liberations ;   but  it  was  evident  that  he  commanded 
general   and   great   respect   from    the   members.     He 
preached    during    the    session,   at   least   once ;   and   I 
believe  that  was  the  only  time  I  ever  heard  him.     His 
discourse  answered  well  to  the  description  already  given 
of  his  efforts  in  the  pulpit :   it  was  a  simple,  logical, 
luminous  exhibition  of  one  of  the  great  truths  of  the 
gospel,  and  was  delivered  in  a  style  of  simplicity  and 
earnestness  that  was  to  me  quite  irresistible.     Here  I 
resumed  my  acquaintance  with  him,  and,  as  we  were 
thrown  much  together  during  the  two  or  three  weeks 
that  the  Assembly  was  in  session,  I  had  the  opportunity 
of  observing  more  particularly  his  distinctive  character- 
istics; and  my  intercourse  with  him  at  this  time  gave 
him  an  abiding  place  in  my  heart.     I  found  in  him  a 
most  generous  friend,  who  never  seemed  to  regard  any 
sacrifice  that  was  involved  in  doing  me  a  favor.    In  sev- 
eral enterprises,  partly  of  a  literary  and  partly  of  a  reli- 
gious character,  he  has  rendered  me  most  effective  aid  ; 
and  he  has  done  it  so  cheerfully  that  one  might  have 
supposed  that  he  was  receiving  a  favor  instead  of  bestow- 
ing it.     During  several  of  his  last  years,  I  have  paid  him 
an  annual  visit ;  and  I  can  truly  say  that  it  has  marked  a 
bright  spot  in  the  year :  for  I  have  reckoned  it  no  com- 


RECOLLECTIONS.  267 

mon  privilege  to  get  a  sight  of  his  venerable  form,  and 
listen  to  his  words  of  wisdom  and  kindness,  and  catch 
the  breathings  of  his  heavenly  spirit.  In  these  visits  I 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  what  a  model 
of  dignity  and  tenderness  and  consideration  he  was  in 
his  own  family ;  how  the  life  of  his  children  seemed 
but  one  unbroken  ministration  of  filial  love,  while  his 
mild  and  gentle  presence,  his  beaming  smile,  and  bright 
sayings,  and  fervent,  child  like  prayers,  made  that  house 
a  scene  of  cheerful  but  hallowed  sunshine.  I  saw  too, 
from  year  to  year,  that  he  was  becoming  more  and 
more  unearthly  in  his  feelings  and  aspirations ;  that, 
while  his  spirit  lost  nothing  of  its  kindly  and  genial 
tone  towards  those  around  him,  it  was  evidently  all  the 
time  girding  itself  for  its  upward  flight.  In  his  family 
prayers  there  was  a  richness,  a  sweetness,  a  tenderness, 
the  savor  of  which  lingered  with  me  long  after  I  had 
left  him;  and,  as  his  eye  is  not  to  rest  upon  what  I 
write,  I  maybe  permitted  to  add  that,  on  one  occasion, 
I  was  awaked,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  by  the  fervent 
expressions  of  gratitude  and  praise  which  I  heard  going 
up  from  him  as  he  lay  in  an  adjoining  chamber.  In  all 
my  intercourse  with  him,  I  cannot  recall  a  single  harsh 
expression,  or  any  thing  that  indicated  the  absence 
of  a  benevolent  spirit,  towards  any  human  being. 
The  last  time  I  saw  him,  I  perceived  that  the  preced- 
ing year  had  done  much  to  reduce  his  strength,  but 
nothing  to  diminish  the  life  and  glow  of  his  affections. 
I  could  see  that  he  was  looking  at  every  thing  in  its 
relation  to  eternal  interests.  While  he  was  cheerful 
and  sometimes  even  playful,  it  was  evident  that  the 
chariot  in  which  he  was  to  ascend  was  making  ready 
for  him,  and  that  his  preparation  was  fully  made  for 


268  RECOLLECTIONS. 

stepping  into  it.  Dear,  venerable  old  man !  I  left 
him  with  some  faint  hope  of  seeing  him  again ;  but 
before  the  time  for  my  next  visit  came,  the  silver 
cord  had  been  loosed,  and  the  veteran  saint  had  gone 
home ! 


APPENDIX. 


THE     DANA     FAMILY. 

A  few  notices  are  subjoined,  specially  interesting  to  some 
who  will  read  these  pages. 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Dana,  dated  March  10,  1826,  James  Free- 
man Dana,  Professor  in  the  Medical  Department  of  Dartmouth 
College,  writes  :  "  When  I  was  in  Cambridge  last  summer,  I 
made  some  researches :  the  most  valuable  result  of  them  was 
the  finding  of  an  old  record,  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of 
the  late  Chief  Justice  [Dana],  and  which  had  for  many  years 
been  supposed  to  be  lost.  The  original  minutes  are  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  late  William  Ellery  of  Newport. 

"  Richard  Dana  came  from  England  to  Cambridge,  being  a 
French  refugee.  He  married  Ann  Bullard  of  Cambridge,  by 
whom  he  had  four  sons,  Jacob,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  and  Daniel, 
and  four  daughters,"  &c.  To  this,  Dr.  J.  F.  Dana  adds,  "  I  have 
always  heard,  by  tradition,  that  the  family  left  France,"  &c. 

In  a  letter  to  Joseph  Dana,  D.D.,  of  Ipswich,  dated  Feb. 
22,  1827,  G.  W.  Dana,  postmaster  of  East  Poultney,  Vt., 
says,  "  I  have  devoted  much  time,  the  summer  past,  in  search- 
ing records  in  Boston  and  towns  about  there,  and  in  corre- 
sponding on  the  subject  of  the  Dana  Family.  My  researches 
have  resulted  in  tracing  back  to  Richard  Dana,  who  died  in 
Cambridge,  April  2,  1690,  at  an  advanced  age;  was  born  in 
France,  and  fled  to  England  in  consequence  of  the  edict  of  the 
emperor,  passed  1629,  &c.  I  have  obtained  from  Cambridge 
Records  the  names  and  ages  of  Richard's  children." 

The  writer  adds,  that  "  the  old  Dana  Farm  in  Little  Cam- 
bridge, now  Brighton,  one  mile  west  of  the  post-office,"  where 
23*  269 


270  APPENDIX. 

his   (the  writer's)  grandfather  was   born  in  1720,  was  still  in 
possession  of  the  family. 

Francis  W.  Dana  of  Boston  writes,  Dec.  18,  1834,  to  Rev. 
Samuel  Dana  of  Marblehead :  "  I  have  been  for  some  time 
collecting  records  of  the  Dana  Family  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  &c.  It  appears  that  our  family  is  of  French  origin  ; 
our  ancestor  Richard  having  been  born  in  France,  fled  from 
thence  to  England  in  consequence  of  some  of  the  persecuting 
edicts  of  the  Catholics,  and  thence  came  to  America,  and  set- 
tled at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  supposed  about  1640." 

In  an  obituary  notice  of  Stephen  W.  Dana  of  Troy,  N.  Y., 
(born  1 786),  he  is  said  to  be  "  a  descendant  of  Richard 
Dana,  a  Huguenot,  who  left  France  at  an  early  period  in  con- 
secmence  of  the  persecutions  there,  and  settled  in  England. 
He,  with  many  other  French  Protestants,  came  to  America." 

Rev.  J.  J.  Dana  (son  of  Stephen  W.  Dana)  has  elaborately 
traced  the  family  history. 

Of  the  four  sons  of  Richard  Dana,  Joseph  had  but  two  chil- 
dren, who  both  died  young.  Jacob  was  ancestor  of  Rev.  Syl- 
vester Dana  of  Orford,  N.H.  Benjamin,  who  married  Mary 
Buckminster,  was  ancestor  of  Joseph  Dana,  D.D.,  of  Ips- 
wich, Hon.  Samuel  Dana  of  Groton,  Professor  James  F.  Dana, 
Judge  Dana  of  Fryeburg,  Judge  Dana  of  Danville.  Daniel 
was  ancestor  of  Chief  Justice  Francis  Dana,  (father  of  Richard 
H.  Dana,  the  poet),  James  Dana,  D.D.,  of  New  Haven, 
Samuel  Whittlesey  Dana,  United-States   Senator. 

Joseph  Dana  of  Pomfret,  Conn.,  son  of  Benjamin,  and 
grandson  of  Richard,  married,  for  his  second  wife,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Francis  Fulham  of  Watertown  Farms,  Weston, 
and  widow  of  Jonathan  Moore  of  Worcester.  Their  children 
were  Cbesides  two  daughters)  Deacon  Jonathan  Dana  of 
Pomfret,  Vt.,  who  died,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  May  13, 
1827  ;  and  Joseph  Dana,  D.D.,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  who  died 
Nov.  16,  1827,  aged  eighty-five. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  the  writer  of  these  pages  to  spend 
more  than  two  years  of  his  childhood  with  the  younger  of  these 
brothers,   and,  when  a  student    in  college,  to  visit  the  elder. 


APPENDIX.  271 

At  a  later  period,  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  father's  elder  brother, 
Joseph  Dana,  Esq.,  long  Professor  in  the  College  at  Athens, 
Ohio.  Vivid  remembrance  of  the  temperament  and  manners 
of  these  and  other  senior  members  of  the  family,  in  whom 
its  distinctive  traits  would  naturally  be  most  strongly  marked, 
confirms  his  conviction  of  its  French  origin. 


Since  the  above  was  written,  the  Rev.  John  J.  Dana  has 
published  (1865)  a  pamphlet  of  sixty- four  pages,  compiled 
with  indefatigable  labor  and  research,  entitled,  "  Memoranda 
of  some  of  the  descendants  of  Richard  Dana."  From  this  we 
take  the  following  :  — 

"  It  is  believed  that  every  person  of  the  name  of  Dana  in 
the  United  States,  entitled  to  the  name  by  birth,  *  traces 
descent  from  Richard  Dana,  who  came  to  Cambridge  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  year  1640.  Certainly  no  person  has  been  found 
or  heard  of,  so  entitled  to  the  name,  who  does  not  claim  descent 
from  him.  He  had  no  brothers,  or  other  relatives  of  the  name, 
who  came  with  him. 

"  Not  only  does  he  appear  to  have  been  the  sole  progenitor 
of  the  family  in  America,  but  no  trace  has  been  found  of  the 
name  in  England,  except  among  the  descendants  of  his  great 
grandson,  the  Rev.  Edmund  Dana,  who  removed  to  England 
about  the  year  1761,  married  there,  and  had  a  large  family 
(see  p.  54).  The  Rev.  Edmund  Dana  said  his  name  was  every- 
where regarded  as  a  new  one  in  England  ;  and  Dr.  Luther  V 
Bell  (see  p.  62)  made  careful  search  in  England,  not  only  at 
the  usual  sources,  but  in  catalogues,  indexes  to  law  reports,  and 
elsewhere,  with  no  success.  It  seems,  therefore,  safe  to  assert, 
that,  if  any  of  the  name  existed  in  England  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  they  soon  died  out. 

*  Judge  Bell  states  that  in  the  southern  part  of  New  Hampshire  are 
families  bearing  our  name,  who  do  so  by  authority  of  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, changing  their  former  name  to  Dana. 


272  APPENDIX. 

"  The  writer  knows  of  no  direct  and  positive  proof  in  writing 
that  Richard  was  born  in  England  ;  but  the  uniform  tradition 
has  been,  that  he  came  here  from  England,  that  he  was  born 
there,  and  that  his  father  was  a  native  of  France,  who  emi- 
grated to  England  on  account  of  religious  persecutions.  A 
silver  cup  was  in  possession  of  Hon.  Judah  Dana  of  Fryeburg, 
Me.,  which  tradition  says  was  brought  by  the  father  of  Richard 
Dana  from  France.  Tradition  adds  that  this  emigration  from 
France  to  England  took  place  about  the  year  1629. 

"  We  have  no  written  proof  of  the  pedigree  of  Richard. 
The  only  fact  conflicting  with  the  theory  that  his  father  came 
from  France  to  England,  is  the  coat  of  arms  now  in  general 
use  among  the  Danas  in  the  United  States.  This  coat  of  arms 
is  found  in  the  Herald's  College  as  having  been  given  about 
the  year  1569,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  to  William 
Dane  (as  the  name  is  spelt  on  the  record),  a  sheriff  of  Middle- 
sex and  alderman  of  London,  an  iron  merchant.  The  writer 
has  no  proof  that  this  coat  of  arms  was  brought  here  or  used 
by  Richard,  or  used  by  his  immediate  descendants.  The  first 
known  proofs  of  its  use  are  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Nor  has  the  writer  been  able  to  hear  of  any  proof  of  any  connec- 
tion between  Richard  and  this  William  Dane  of  1569.  If  the  fact 
be  that  this  coat  of  arms  was  given  at  the  Herald's  College  in  re- 
sponse to  inquiries  made  there  by  some  of  our  family  several 
generations  after  Richard,  without  any  proofs  of  pedigree  con- 
necting him  with  this  William  Dane,  and  so  passed  lately  into 
use  in  the  family,  it  amounts  to  very  little.  If  there  be  any 
proof  of  its  earlier  and  general  use  in  the  family,  or  of  a 
pedigree  of  Richard,  it  is  earnestly  hoped  it  will  be  produced. 

"  There  is  no  reason  for  connecting  our  name  with  that  of 
Dane.  The  name  of  Dane  is  common  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica, and  is  always  a  monosyllable.  It  means  "  the  Dane,"  i.e., 
of  Danish  descent,  in  England.  Our  name,  on  the  contrary, 
has  always  been  a  word  of  two  syllables.  No  other  mode  of 
spelling  it  has  ever  prevailed  than  the  present.  Not  only  did 
Richard  so  spell  it,  but  all  his  numerous  descendants,  scattered 
in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  without  much  opportunity  for 


APPENDIX.  273 

communication,  are  found  to  have  spelt  it  uniformly  Dana.  In 
the  Cambridge  records,  when  written  by  other  persons,  it  is 
found  occasionally  spelt  Dany,  and  once  (apparently,  though 
the  writing  is  obscure)  Danae ;  but,  however  spelt  or  pro- 
nounced, it  has  always  been  a  word  of  two  syllables.*  The 
names  of  Dauney,  Daneray,  Dennie,  &c,  are  found  in  Eng- 
land. The  latter  name  is  common  in  America  ;  but  no  descend- 
ant of  Richard  ever  spelt  his  name  in  that  way,  nor  has  any 
person  of  the  name  of  Denny,  or  Dennie,  ever  claimed  descent 
from  Richard  Dana.  It  may  therefore  be  considered  as  settled, 
that  the  surname  borne  by  our  common  ancestor,  Richard, 
was  a  word  of  two  syllables,  properly  spelt  Dana  ;  and  that  no 
person  is  found  to  have  borne  that  name  in  America  or  Eng- 
land, entitled  to  it  by  descent,  who  is  not  descended  from 
him. 

"  The  date  of  Richard's  settlement  in  Cambridge  seems  al- 
ways to  have  been  fixed  at  1640.  The  writer  has  no  docu- 
mentary evidence  of  the  date  of  Richard's  birth,  though  in 
some  late  records  it  is  placed  at  1620." 

*  It  was  the  universal  custom  of  New  England,  until  within  fifty  or  sixty 
years,  to  give  to  the  final  a  the  English  sound,  as  in  fate.  Our  name 
would  have  been  so  pronounced  when  properly  spelt,  and  was  so  pro- 
nounced under  the  general  custom.  This  led  to  the  occasional  mis-spell- 
ing of  the  name,  by  persons  who  spelt  from  the  sound  only.  Now  the 
final  a  in  proper  names  has  the  continental  sound,  as  iu  far,  and  the  spell- 
ing is  less  likely  to  be  mistaken.  In  England,  both  syllables  of  the  name 
have  the  sound  of  a  in  far. 


THE  REV.  SAMUEL  DANA. 


The  Rev.  Samuel  Dana  of  Marblehead  departed  this  life 
Aug.  16,  1864,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

The  writer  was  privileged  with  a  brief  interview  with  him 
one  year  after  his  brother's  death.  He  said,  "  I  have  thought 
with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  of  your  dear  father,  —  that  in  all 
his  life  he  never  gave  me  a  word,  no,  not  a  look,  that  was  un- 
kind or  unbrotherly." 

From  1801  to  1837  (when  ill  health  compelled  his  resigna- 
tion), Mr.  Dana  was  the  beloved  and  devoted  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  of  Marblehead.  In  the  sermon  occasioned  by  his 
death,  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  B.  R.  Allen,  thus  speaks  of 
him  :  — 

"  Mr.  Dana  possessed  a  strong,  well-balanced,  and  lucid  mind  ; 
a  large  share  of  sound,  practical  wisdom ;  and  a  deeply  affection- 
ate and  most  ingenuous  heart.  Having  studied  men  as  well  as 
books,  he  was  an  accurate  and  discriminating  judge  of  character. 
He  was  slow  in  forming  his  opinions,  and  maturing  his  judgments ; 
but,  when  reached,  he  adhered  to  them  with  great  tenacity. 
His  conduct  in  any  given  case  was  founded  in  principle,  not 
inspired  by  impulse  ;  hence  he  was  highly  conservative.  His 
morality  and  his  philanthropy,  which  were  high  and  broad, 
sprung  out  of  his  religion  ;  and  his  religion  was  derived  solely 
from  the  Bible,  as  the  revelation  of  God.  Any  religious  opinion 
or  doctrine,  any  scheme  of  philanthropy  or  ethics,  which  could 
show  for  its  warrant  the  authority  of  the  Bible,  he  embraced 
with  all  his  heart ;  while  all  those  which  failed  to  do  this,  he 
instantly,  and  with  all  heart,  rejected. 

"  He  was  a  generous  man  :  whilst  holding  with  great  firmness 
274 


REV.    SAMUEL  DANA.  275 

the  truths  which  his  faith  or  his  intellect  had  received,  and 
defending  them  with  all  his  power,  as  a  duty  which  he  owed  to 
Christ  and  his  fellow-men,  he  was  courteous  and  kind  towards 
those  from  whom  he  was  compelled  to  differ.  Had  he  been 
less  positive  and  firm  in  his  faith,  his  generosity,  his  fine  culture, 
his  high  social  character,  might  have  betrayed  him  into  a  sac- 
rifice or  a  compromise  of  the  truth  ;  had  he  been  less  generous, 
his  positive  faith  might  have  degenerated  into  bigotry.  But 
the  very  nice  adjustment  of  these  two  qualities  of  mind  and  heart 
made  him  what  he  was,  —  the  bold  uncompromising  defender 
of  the  truth,  and  the  perfect  Christian  gentleman. 

"  Mr.  Dana  was  thoroughly  educated,  both  in  literature  and 
theology.  While  his  voice  was  feeble,  the  testimony  to  the 
richness  of  his  sermons,  in  matter  and  composition,  was  universal ; 
so  that  he  was  always  listened  to  with  attention  and  profit. 

"  Mr.  Dana's  domestic  character  was  of  a  very  high  order. 
His  affection  and  reverence  for  his  parents,  and  his  love  for 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  resembled  in  depth  and  fulness  that  of 
the  great  Webster,  more  than  that  of  any  other  man  I  know 
of.  Dr.  Dana,  the  father,  like  most  ministers  in  New  England, 
had  a  limited  salary ;  and  yet,  like  a  true  Puritan,  next  to  their 
salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,  he  sought  as  the  first  thing  the 
thorough  education  of  his  children.  Hence  he  often  found  him- 
self in  straitened  circumstances.  His  three  sons  were  liber- 
ally educated,  and  amply  repaid,  by  the"ir  characters,  their 
positions  in  life,  and  their  usefulness,  —  all  which  the  venerable 
father  lived  to  see  and  enjoy,  —  all  the  anxiety  and  labor  attend- 
ing it.  The  subject  of  this  notice  fully  appreciated  his  father's 
position,  and  deeply  sympathized  with  it.  Between  the  time  of 
his  graduation  and  that  of  his  settlement,  a  period  of  about 
five  years,  Mr.  Dana  taught  an  academy,  thereby  accumulating 
some  means  to  help  himself  and  relieve  his  honored  father  from 
a  large  pecuniary  embarrassment  of  thirty  years'  standing.  He 
has  recorded  it  as  one  of  the  happiest  moments  of  his  life,  when 
he  was  enabled  thus  to  lift  off  the  heavy  burden  from  the  heart 
of  that  father  whom  he  so  tenderly  loved  and  so  profoundly 
revered. 


276  REV.   SAMUEL  DANA. 

"  His  amiable,  devoted,  and  lovely  wife,  whom  he  most  ten- 
derly loved,  and  whom  to  know  was  to  love,  who  was  the  part- 
ner of  his  joys  and  the  partaker  of  his  sorrows  for  nearly  sixty 
years,  was  the  first  to  be  called  home  :  she  preceded  him  only 
a  few  months  to  his  heavenly  rest. 

"  How  wise  and  kind  is  God  !  He  causes  every  thing  to  be 
beautiful  in  its  time.  How  marked  in  the  case  of  our  venerable 
father's  death  !  The  time, —  the  period  of  weakness  and  weari- 
ness and  loneliness,  after  he  had  enjoyed,  through  a  long  life, 
all  of  earth  there  is  to  enjoy,  —  in  his  happy  home,  in  the  sweet 
communion  of  choice  spirits,  with  his  heart,  even  at  the  last, 
warming  with  fresh  life  towards  those  he  loved.  And  the  man- 
ner, —  that  sleep,  how  beautiful,  how  calm,  how  peaceful ! 
deepening  and  deepening  as  hour  after  hour  passed  away,  until 
earth  was  absorbed,  the  river  was  crossed,  and  his  eyes  opened 
to  drink  in  the  immortal  glories  of  heaven." 

Anna,  the  last  surviving  daughter  of  Dr.  Josejjh  Dana,  closed 
a  life  singularly  devotional  and  benevolent,  at  the  paternal 
mansion  in  Ipswich,  Feb.  13,  1866. 


DR.   DANA'S   PUBLICATIONS. 


Sermon  the  Sabbath  after  Ordination,  Nov.  23,  1794. 
Sermons  on  John  vi.  29,  and  Eph.  iv.  30,  March  24,  1799. 
Two  Sermons  on  the  National  Fast,  April  25,  1799. 
Discourse  on  the  Character  of  Washington,  Feb.  22,  1800. 
Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mr.  Benjamin.  Moody,  March  7,  1802. 
Sermon  at  the  Interment  of  the  Rev.  John  Boddily,  Nov.  4, 

1802. 
Discourse  on  Music,  delivered  at  Boxford,  Sept.  12,  1803. 
Discourse  before  the  Female  Charitable  Society,  Newburyport, 

May  22,  1804. 
Discourse  on  the  Qualifications  of  Rulers,  March  31,  1805. 
Discourse  on   the  Deity  of  Christ,  July  31,  1810;  Reprinted 

1819. 
Discourse  on  the  Annual  Thanksgiving,  Nov.  26,  1812. 
Address  to  the  Merrimack  Humane  Society,  Sept.  7,  1813. 
Address  to  the  Rockingham  Sacred  Music  Society,  Hampton, 

Oct.  6,  1813. 
Sermon  on  the  death  of  William  Coombs,  Esq.,  June  12,  1814. 
Discourse  on  American  Independence,  and  the  Deliverance  of 

Europe,  July  4,  1814. 
Sermon  before  the  Gloucester  Female  Society  for  promoting 

Christian  knowledge,  April  18,  1815. 
Sermon  before  the  Merrimack  Bible  Society,  July  27,  1815. 
Sermon    at    the    Ordination    of   the   Rev.    Levi    Hartshorn, 

Gloucester,  Oct.  18,  1815. 
Sermon,  at  the    Ordination   of  Rev.  Jacob   Weed   Eastman, 

Methuen,  Dec.  13,  1815. 

24  277 


2/8  DB.  DANA'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

m 

Sermon  at  the   Ordination  of  Rev.  Hervey  Wilbur,  Wendell, 

Jan.  1,  1817. 
Sermon  before  the  Massachusetts  Society  for  promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge,  May  28,  1817. 
Address  before  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society,  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, Aug.  26,  1817. 
Sermon   at    the   Funeral   of    Rev.    William  Morrison,   D.D., 

March  12,  1818. 
Address  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Sabbath  Schools  of  Newburyport, 

Aug.  16,  1818. 
Sermon  before   the  American    Education    Society,    Sept.    20, 

1818. 
Sermon  at  the  Installation  of  Rev.  Henry  Blatchford,  Salem, 

Jan.  6,  1819. 
Sermon  at  the  Dedication  of  Church  in   Dedham,  Dec.  30, 

1819. 
Sermon   on   the  Death   of  Rev.   Levi  Hartshorn,   Gloucester, 

Feb.  20,  1820. 
Sermon  before  the  Female  Benevolent  Society,  Exeter,  July 

30,  1820. 
Farewell   Sermon  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Newbury- 

port,  Nov.  19,  1820. 
Election  Sermon,  Concord,  N.H.,  June  5,  1823. 
Convention  Sermon  (on  the  Atonement),  Concord,  N.H.,  June 

2,  1824. 
Sermon    before   the    New-Hampshire    Auxiliary    Colonization 

■     Society,  June  2,  1825. 
Sermon  at  the   Ordination  of  Rev.  W.  K.  Talbot,  Nottingham 

West,  N.H.,  Nov.  2,  1825. 
Two  Sermons  on  the  Sabbath 'after  Installation,  Newburyport, 

1826. 
Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Daniel  Fitz,  Ipswich,  1826. 
Sermon  at  the  Installation  of  J.  Brown,  D.D.,  Boston,  1829. 
Sermon  at  United  Meeting  of  Churches,  Newburyport,  1832. 
Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  John  C.  March,  Belleville, 

1832. 
Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Harriott  Putnam,  1832. 


DR.   DANA'S  PUBLICATIONS.  279 

•  '. 
Address  before  the  Associated  Alumni  of  Dartmouth  College, 

1833. 
Address  before  the  Ipswich  Female  Seminary,  1834. 
Sermon  at  the  Installation  of  Rev.  John  M.  C.  Bartley,  Hamp- 

stead,  1836. 
Election  Sermon,  Massachusetts,  1837. 
Letters  to  Professor  Stuart,  1839. 

Sermon  Commemorative  of  William  Bartlet,  Esq.,  1841. 
Half-century  Sermon.  Newburyport,  1844. 
Sermon  on  "  The  Faith  of  Former  Times,"  1848. 
Sermon  on  "  The  New  Song,"  1849. 
Sermon  before  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry,  1851. 
Remonstrance  addressed  to  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy, 

Andover,  1853. 
Introduction  to  "  The  Theology  of  New  England,"  1855. 

Also,  contributions  to  "Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  Me- 
moir of  Rev.  John  C.  March,  Tracts,  Lectures,  and  very 
numerous  contributions  (sometimes  over  the  signature  of 
Philalethes)  to  various  periodicals  and  newspapers. 


DATE  DUE 

TBTlirx.*"^ 

P$0* 

GAVLORO 

PRINTED  IN  USA.     1 

H 


